USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 6
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NORMAN HARRISON SMITH-Among those New Brunswick business men who are actively influential in the community is Norman Harrison Smith, who has for the past ten years since coming here been interested in everything that pertains to the welfare and development of New Brunswick. Mr. Smith is descended from ancestors in the Colonial and Revolutionary periods of our history and is conspicuously identified with the developments of the most vital interests of the State of New Jersey.
Harvey Isaac Smith, father of Norman Harrison Smith, was born in Jersey City, and died there in March, 1889, at the age of twenty-nine years. He was a member of a branch of the Smith family who have
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resided in New Jersey for many generations. He married Clara Tetlow, who now resides in Dunellen, New Jersey. Mrs. Smith's father and her uncle, Henry Tetlow, were prominent manufacturers of soaps and perfumes in Philadelphia, and descend from one, - - Tetlow, who came to this country from England in the middle of the seventeenth cen- tury. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of two children: Maude May, wife of John B. Buckalew, of Dunellen, New Jersey; and Norman Harrison, of further mention.
Norman Harrison Smith was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, June 28, 1888, and came with his mother to New Brunswick, New Jersey, when he was but two years of age. Here he attended the local public schools and after his third year in the New Brunswick High School, he entered Coleman's Business College, at Newark, New Jersey, from which he was graduated in 1904. He then secured a position as book- keeper with the Beckwith-Chandler Company of Newark, but resigned after two years to accept a position with J. H. Dunhamn & Company, of New York City. Two years later, he left this concern to go with the Crandell & Godley Company as salesman, and remained with this firm until 1910, when he came to New Brunswick and established the Wil- liamson Garage Company with Walter Williamson as a partner. This association continued until September, 1911, when Mr. Smith disposed of his interests and established a new business under the name of Garside & Smith, Walter L. Garside having become a partner in the enterprise. Five years later, Mr. Smith absorbed the whole business, and on January 1. 1920, moved to his present location, No. 68 French street, New Brunswick, having erected suitable quarters, covering a space of 50XIIO feet, his enterprise being known as the American Auto Company. It has been due to his own efforts that his business has grown to its present extensive proportions, and he is looked upon by his associates and fellow-citizens as a most capable business man. He handles the Buick, Dodge, Studebaker and Jordan pleasure cars, and the Brock- way and Day-Elder trucks, as well as a full line of accessories, and also conducts a service station for the repairing of the cars handled by the concern.
Mr. Smith has always taken an active interest in educational matters, and is chairman of the committee on instruction and discipline of the Highland Park Board of Education. He is a member of St. James' Methodist Episcopal Church, and also is prominent in the local fraternal organizations. He has taken his thirty-second degree in Freemasonry, affiliating with Union Lodge, No. 19, Free and Accepted Masons ; Scott Chapter, No. 4, Royal Arch Masons; Scott Council, No. 1, Royal and Select Mastors ; Temple Commandery, No. 18, Knights Templar ; Salaam Temple. Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Newark, New Jersey. He is now (1920), junior warden of Union Lodge, and also junior warden of Temple Commandery. He is a member and past grand of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; a member of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and the Benevolent and Protec- tive Order of Elks. He also holds membership in the Craftsmen's Club,
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the Middlesex Automobile Club, and the New Brunswick Boat Club, a trustee of same, and is vice-president of the Knights of King Arthur Club. Mr. Smith is treasurer of the New Brunswick Motor Trade Association. In politics he is a Republican, being a member of the Highland Park Republican Club, and one of the active workers of his party.
On June 2, 1909, Mr. Smith was united in marriage with Hazel A. Swenarton, a daughter of Thomas H. and Adele (Stivers) Swenarton. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents of three children : Norman Russell, born March 12, 1911 ; Spencer Hazelton, born December 3. 1913 ; Thomas Harvey, born February 28, 1915. Mr. Smith has a beautiful home in Highland Park, at No. 9 Grant avenue.
JOHN BAYARD KIRKPATRICK .- The name of Kirkpatrick has been prominently identified with the insurance business in New Bruns- wick, New Jersey, for a great many years, but together in this business both Mr. Kirkpatrick and his father have been influential citizens, giving to the welfare of the community the interest demanded of every good citizen.
John Bayard Kirkpatrick, father of the subject of this review, was born in Washington, D. C., in 1857, and died September 6, 1912, at New Brunswick, in his sixty-seventh year. He founded the John Bayard Kirkpatrick Insurance Agency and conducted it for forty-nine years previous to his death. Being ever prominent in the city's affairs, he was city treasurer for many years. He married Mary Elizabeth Phillips, a native of Riverdale, New York ; she is still living and resides in New Brunswick, New Jersey. To Mr. and Mrs. Kirkpatrick were born four children: Mary Jane Bayard, wife of Abram Van Ness Bald- win : Laura Boardman ; John Bayard, mentioned below, and Andrew.
John Bayard (2) Kirkpatrick, son of John Bayard (1) and Mary E. (Phillips) Kirkpatrick, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Feb- ruary 23, 1887. His elementary education was obtained by private tutor, after which he entered Rutgers Preparatory School, from which he was graduated in 1896, subsequently matriculating at Rutgers Col- lege, from which he graduated in 1900, having completed the prescribed four years' course. In 1912, when his father's death occurred. Mr. Kirkpatrick entered the insurance business which his father had estab- lished and has continued in it ever since at the present location. No. 393 George street. On October 1. 1912, the business was incorporated under the name of the J. Bayard Kirkpatrick Company, J. Bayard Kirk- patrick, president : Mary E. Kirkpatrick, vice-president; Andrew Kirk- patrick, secretary and treasurer, for the purpose of handling real estate and insurance. He is also treasurer and a director of the Second Mer- chants' Building and Loan Association.
Mr. Kirkpatrick has taken considerable interest in military affairs, and for fifteen years was a member of the National Guard, eight years a member of Essex Troop, of Newark, N. J., and for seven years was connected with Company H, 2nd New Jersey Infantry, National Guard,
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of New Brunswick, holding the commission of first lieutenant, from which he went into World War as first lieutenant and in May was pro- moted to captain ; he served from March 31, 1917, until December 31, 1918, when he was honorably discharged from the service. He is an attendant of the Second Reformed Church of New Brunswick, and a member of the Delta Phi fraternity.
On June 15, 1912, Mr. Kirkpatrick was united in marriage with Bessie Madeline Fisher, daughter of Charles and Ella Fisher, of New Brunswick, New Jersey. They are the parents of one child, Mary Elizabeth Bayard Kirkpatrick, born October 27, 1918. The family home is at No. 15 Cleveland avenue.
ARTHUR ERSKINE GRAHAM, who for some years has been prominently connected with the general life of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, as a business man and man of affairs, is a member of an old and distinguished Scottish family, this branch of which was founded in the United States by his grandfather, James Graham, who came here from Scotland and located in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
Mr. Graham's parents were John Henry and Anna Marion (Brown) Graham, old and highly respected residents of Perth Amboy, now both deceased. John Henry Graham was born in Woodbridge, in the year 1847, and as a young man went to Tottenville, Staten Island, where he resided for a time. He later removed to Pleasant Plains, New York, and from there came to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, in 1896. He was the proprietor of two successful bakeries here and also taught vocal music in the local public schools, remaining active until his death, October 29. 1914. His wife, who was a Miss Brown of Manasquan, New Jersey, died at Perth Amboy. July 1, 1907, at the age of sixty-four. They were the parents of four children, as follows: George, who died at Pleasant Plains at the age of twenty-one years; Lillian May, who now makes her home in Perth Amboy: James William, died February II, 1919, at the age of thirty-eight, and left two children, Marian and Natalie: and Arthur Erskine.
The birth of Arthur Erskine Graham occurred in Tottenville, Staten Island. June 5, 1882, but he was yet an infant when his parents removed to Pleasant Plains and it was with that place that his earliest associa- tions were formed. He attended school there until his fifteenth year, when he came to Perth Amboy, where he has made his home ever since. He continued to attend the grammar schools of this city until he was sixteen years of age, when he gave up his studies and secured a position as a stenographer in the office of the vice-president of the Lehigh Valley Railroad in New York City. There he remained for five years, learning much about business methods and gaining in experi- ence, and then gave up his position to take one with the National Fire Proofing Company of Perth Amboy, one of the largest industrial con- cerns in the region. Until quite recently Mr. Graham has continued a valuable employee of this company, his association with it continuing over a period of some seventeen years, but in the meantime he also took
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an active part in local public affairs until at the present time he is devoting all his time and attention to the discharge of his official duties. For eight months, in 1919, he served as secretary of the local draft board under Mayor Ten Brook. From January, 1919, for one year he was secretary to former Mayor Dorsey, who is mentioned at length in this work, and on January 1, 1920, was appointed city clerk of Perth Amboy by the Board of Aldermen for a three-year term. He is now engaged in filling that responsible post, displaying an efficiency and disinterestedness that have already won the approval of all classes of his fellow-citizens. Mr. Graham is a member of the Raritan Yacht Club of Perth Amboy, serving for eleven years as its secretary, and is now on its board of governors. He is devotedly attached to all forms of out-door sports and takes particular pleasure in baseball and automobiling. In his religious belief Mr. Graham is a Presbyterian and attends the First Presbyterian Church of Perth Amboy, of which he is a trustee.
Arthur Erskine Graham was united in marriage, October 5, 1903, in Perth Amboy, with Ada Tyrell, a native of this place, born July 5, 1882, a daughter of James and Mary (Martin) Tyrell, both deceased. Mr. Tyrell was for many years the owner of a large livery stable in Perth Amboy, was a leading figure in banking and financial circles, and took a prominent part in the development of the volunteer fire depart- ment.
ALEXANDER MERCHANT was born in Glasgow, Scotland, Janu- ary 7, 1872, the son of Alexander and Barbara (Findlay) Merchant. Alexander Merchant, Sr., was a purser on the National Line, sailing between Liverpool and New York City for many years. He died in Glasgow, in 1877, at the age of thirty-three years.
Alexander Merchant was brought by his parents to this country when he was very young, and upon landing in New York went immedi- ately to Long Island City, where the lad received his education. In 1888, at the age of sixteen years, he came to New Brunswick, New Jersey, and secured a position with D. D. Williamson, an architect, where he remained for five years, subsequently going to New York City, where he continued in this line for twelve years. In 1906 he returned to New Brunswick, and established himself at his present location, No. 363 George street. He has been very successful from the very outset in this enterprise and is eminently respected for the unimpeachable integrity of all his dealings. He specializes in school buildings, but also handles all kinds of work in his line of business, the New Brunswick High School being one of his pieces of work.
Alexander Merchant is one of the foremost citizens of New Bruns- wick, always a leader in movements which have for their end the advancement of civic conditions. A Republican in political affiliations, he is a keen student of all issues and has taken a keen and active interest in the affairs of the local organizations, having served on the Highland Park Council for many years, and also on its Board of Education. Mr. Merchant is a director of the Highland Park Building and Loan Associa-
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tion ; also the Young Men's Building and Loan Association. He is affiliated with Palestine Lodge, No. 11I, Free and Accepted Masons, and New Brunswick Lodge, No. 324, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He also holds membership in the New Brunswick Club and the New Brunswick Boat Club. His hobby is tennis. Mr. Merchant and his family are members of the Highland Park Reformed Church.
On June 24, 1896, Mr. Merchant was united in marriage with Mar- garet Beaton Henderson, of New Brunswick, daughter of William and Agnes (Thomson) Henderson, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Merchant are the parents of one child. William Alexander Merchant, born August 17, 1898; he enlisted in the United States army during the World War and was assigned to the 504th Motor Truck Company, stationed at Charleston, South Carolina, and received his honorable discharge in June. 1919; he is a student at Syracuse University, a member of the class of 1923.
WILLIAM SCHLESINGER, numbered among the prominent business men of New Brunswick, New Jersey, is the owner and man- ager of the Schlesinger coal and grain business. Since 1890 Mr. Schles- inger has been a resident of this community and none of her vital inter- ests lack his influential and public-spirited support.
Henry Schlesinger, father of the subject of this review, was born in Austria, in 1826, and died in Brooklyn, New York. For many years he was a shoe dealer in New York City. He married Sophia Frend, also a native of Austria, and to them were born eight children, of whom three are still living: William, of further mention: Frank, in the cigar business at No. 90 Church street, New Brunswick; Frederick H., in the employ of the Texas Company, at Hamburg, Germany.
William Schlesinger was born in Detroit, Michigan, August 14, 1860, and was brought to New York City by his parents when very young. and here, in the public schools of the city, obtained his education, after which he attended New York University. Until 1890 Mr. Schlesinger was in the cigar manufacturing business in New York City. then came to this community and was employed by the Charles C. Davis Cigar Company until 1908, when he engaged in the cigar manufacturing business on his own account until 1910, at which time he purchased the Henry H. Banker coal and grain business which he is conducting at the present time, his success being due to his untiring energy and firm belief in his own ability.
In politics he is a Republican, and takes an active part in the affairs of the local organizations, having been a member of the Water Com- mission and of the County Board of Taxation, serving as president of both, and a member of the Board of Trade. He affiliates with National Lodge, No. 209, Free and Accepted Masons of New York City, a past master of same : and with New Brunswick Lodge, No. 324. Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, a past exalted ruler. He is a prominent member of the congregation. Anshe Emeth Synagogue, of New Bruns- wick, also former president of that organization.
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On February 22, 1900, Mr. Schlesinger was united in marriage with Rae Wolfson, a native of New Brunswick, and the daughter of Aaron and Augusta Wolfson, both deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Schlesinger are the parents of two children : Gertrude, born in October, 1903; and Wil- liam Henry, born May 10, 1905.
ARTHUR STERN, the active head of one of Perth Amboy's most important business establishments, is in the prime of life and full of the vital energy which is so large a factor in business confidence, and he is a part of the city's prosperity.
Simon Stern, his father, coming to this country as a boy from his native city of Berlin, Germany, went direct to St. Joseph, Missouri. There he grew up, putting his natural business ability to excellent account in the clothing business, which he followed for thirty-five years. He was very successful and retired from active business twelve years before his death, devoting his time after his retirement, to charity. He married Henrietta Hart, who was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. She died in St. Joseph, in 1910, at the age of sixty-four years. They were the par- ents of six children, all of whom are now living : Bertha, wife of Julius Rosenblatt; Arthur, of whom extended mention follows; Stella, now a widow, residing in Kansas City; Florence, who also lives in Kansas City ; Sidney, a resident of Los Angeles, California ; and Maurice, of St. Joseph.
Arthur Stern was born in St. Joseph, Missouri, March 1, 1873. He received his early education at the excellent public schools of that city, supplementing this preparatory study with a course at the Wentworth Military Academy, at Lexington, Missouri. After this three years' course he returned to St. Joseph, and opened a furniture store under the name of the People's Furniture Company. He was successful from the start; but after four years there, he decided to remove to a larger city. He went to St. Louis and opened a store in the same line of business, remaining there twelve years, with most satisfactory results. At the end of that period, various considerations induced him to come East, and he bought out the business which he now conducts in Perth Amboy. Under his management the business has fully doubled its capacity, and the store has become one of the show places of the town.
While his mercantile interests almost completely absorb his time, Mr. Stern is not wholly a man of business. His chief delight is getting into the great out-door world, motoring, hunting, or fishing; and he is a member of the Raritan Yacht Club. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
Mr. Stern married, in El Paso, Texas, on June 19. 1903, Belle, daugh- ter of Thomas and Margaret Ogden. She was born in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her father is now a resident of Traverse City, Michigan ; her mother died in 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Stern are the parents of two chil- dren, both living: Irma Ogden, born June 6, 1904; and Arthur H., born October 16, 1906.
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WILLIAM GORDON HOWELL, who occupies the highest posi- tion of trust in the gift of the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, descended from an old New Jersey family, of English origin, and himself long active in the manufacturing interests of the State, Mr. Howell represents the solid citizenship which is the basis of all progress.
Mr. Howell's father, George Wilson Howell, was a native of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and died here at the age of seventy-eight years, in 1913. He was superintendent of the Janeway & Carpender Wall Paper plant for many years, having become associated with this firm at its organization, and remaining with them until his death. He was widely celebrated in fraternal circles as one of the most loyal Masons in the State of New Jersey, and one of the best posted men in the Masonic fraternity on the subject of Masonry, having advanced to the thirty-third degree. He was a member of Union Lodge; Scott Chapter, No. 4; Temple Commandery ; Mecca Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. His advice was frequently sought in this connection, and his decisions were considered final. George Wilson Howell married Priscilla Van Deventer, who was born in South River, a locality known in recent years as Van Deventer Station, from the prominence of this family. They were the parents of eight children, the three now living being : Charles, Alice and William Gordon, all living in the family homestead on the corner of George street and Remsen avenue.
William Gordon Howell was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He received his education in the public schools of the city. At the age of nineteen years he entered the business in which his father was engaged, filling the position of wall paper designer for a period of twenty-five years, the greater part of that time with the Janeway-Car- pender Company, but for a time connected with New York City con- cerns. In 1908, Mr. Howell was elected assessor of the city of New Brunswick, in which office he served the people with the same capability which he had always put into his business interests, holding this office for six years. At the end of that period he succeeded to his present office, that of city treasurer. He entered upon the duties of this office, July 15, 1919, and is serving the interests of the public with rare judg- ment. In addition to his duties in this connection, Mr. Howell holds the office of custodian of school funds, to which he was elected for a term of four years. He is secretary of the Building and Loan Associa- tion which has offices in the National Bank Building, and during the World War was fuel administrator for this district. Mr. Howell spends little time in recreation, being devoted to his many interests of a business nature, but finds his favorite relaxation in fishing and home gardening. He is single. He is a member of Christ Episcopal Church.
ALVIN BARTHOLDI FOX, one of the busiest men in Perth Amboy, a member of the firm of Larson & Fox, civil engineers, and also secretary and treasurer of the Union Garage Company of Perth Amboy, has from the inception of his business career, been identified with local industrial
Al. Howell.
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interests, making his way to the position of prominence which he holds today. Mr. Fox, in addition to his prominent connection with the busi- ness life of the city, is officially and influentially associated with the various other elements of her life as a municipality.
Frederick F. Fox, father of Alvin Bartholdi Fox, was born in New York City, June 2, 1842. During the Civil War from 1861-1865, he was a member of Hawkin's Zouaves, Company C, Ninth New York Regi- ment, and, consequently, saw much active service. At the age of thirty- seven he came to Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and here was engaged in the undertaking, real estate and insurance business up to the time of his death, which occurred May 15, 1914. Mr. Fox married Maria I .. Bohr, a native of Clarkstown, Rockland county, New York, where she was born September 11, 1851 ; at the present time she resides at Perth Amboy. Mr. and Mrs. Fox were the parents of two children: Caroline M., wife of Matthew D. Sherrill, of Irvington; and Alvin B., subject of this review.
Alvin Bartholdi Fox was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, October 29, 1886, the son of Frederick F. and Maria L. (Bohr) Fox. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and Rutgers College, from which institution he was graduated in 1908, and received his degree of Civil Engineer in 1912. Immediately after leaving college he entered the employ of Mogan Larson, civil engineer, and at the same time took a night course at the Brooklyn Polytechnic School. It was with Mr. Larson that he received his business initiation and it was here that he exhibited his ability and developed those executive talents which enabled him to gain the success which he has since attained. Perhaps the truth of this statement is best attested by the fact that in 1910 he was received into partnership, forming the firm of Larson & Fox. The success which uniformly attends the company is due in large meas- ure to the mingled aggressiveness and conservatism always exercised by Mr. Fox. In 1912, the same year that he received his degree of Civil Engineer, he was appointed county engineer of Middlesex county, and also resident engineer of the New Jersey State Highway Department, which latter office he held for a period of one year. On January I, of the year 1920, he was made borough engineer of Spotswood, Middlesex county, New Jersey.
In 1918 he assisted in the organization of the Union Garage Company of Perth Amboy, New Jersey, and since May, 1918, he has been secre- tary, treasurer and general manager of the organization. The same year that he became associated with this company, he served on the commission to suggest a revision of the motor vehicle laws which pertained to automobile trucks. That the Union Garage Company has prospered during the past two years is largely due to Mr. Fox, who has displayed a keen interest in its welfare from the beginning, and has viewed its increasing success with no little satisfaction.
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