USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 16
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On April 21, 1849, Edwin Forrest Applegate married Mary Lucinda French, daughter of En- sign and Mary (White) French, of Middletown, New Jersey, in the Fulton street Baptist Church,
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New York City, by Rev. Lemuel Covell, and he died in Freehold, New Jersey, January 23, 1885, aged fifty-three years, and his widow died March 1, 1892, aged sixty-one years.
Edwin Forrest Applegate and wife left the fol- lowing ten sons and daughters: 1. Edwin Clark, of New York City, widower; one son, Edwin Raid Applegate, of California, retired United States Navy. 2. William French, died at Connells- ville, Pennsylvania, April 2, 1916, leaving a widow, Mary (Rodgers) Applegate, who died at Connells- ville, May 12, 1917, and two sons, William French, Jr. and Edwin Forrest, also a daughter, Mrs. Mary Thompson, all of Connellsville. 3. Mrs. Louis Angeline (French) Grant, widow of J. T. Grant, formerly of Trenton; one son, John T., Jr., who served in the World War, also daughter, Mrs. Rita, who has a sixteen year old daughter, Louise. 4. Mrs. Mary Hinkle, wife of Charles Hin- kle, of Brooklyn; one daughter. 5. Mrs. Matilda Unie Keynton, of Brooklyn, widow of Douglas Keynton, died March 12, 1916, in Brooklyn, and one son, Douglas. His widow, after Spencer Wells wife's death, married him. 6. Maxcy, noted below. 7. Robert T. M., of Skillman, married Eliza Jeffries, of Jerseyville, now deceased, wid- ower, has children living: Mary, wife of William Krum, of Bordentown, New Jersey, five children; Ada, wife of David Lore, of Pitman, New Jersey, and child; Lydia, of Howell, one child; and Rob- erta Rhodes, died January 21, 1919, leaves a wid- ower, Elwood Rhodes, of Jamesburg, New Jeresy, and four children, Russell, Bertha, Eva and Evelyn. Eunice Emmons, wife of Harry Emmons, died in Freehold, March 24, 1918, leaves a husband and a son. 8. Andrew G., of Newark, married Amy Sharman, at Long Island City, New York, March 3, 1889; children: A. Spencer, married Ma- belle Durner, of Long Island City, February 2, 1918, and they have two children, Dorothy and A. Spencer, Jr .; Edna Forrest, unmarried. 9. An- na Amanda Wells, wife of Spencer Wells, died at Jamaica, Long Island, November 3, 1920, leaves widower and son and daughter, Spencer and Amie. 10. Julia Clayton, died in Brooklyn, 1918, un- married.
Maxcy Applegate, Sr.,. was born at Red Bank, New Jersey, November 14, 1865, and commenced his work on "The Inquirer" in 1875, when at- tending school, as a carrier and press feeder, and with the exception of two years spent in the West in his early manhood, has always been con- nected with it, a period of forty-five years, mak- ing, the combined period of father and son fifty- five years. Maxcy Applegate, Sr., served thirty- one years and eight months as a member of Good Will Hook and Ladder Company, and during that time held almost every position, including foreman, several years. He was also treasurer for a long time of the Freehold Fire Department, and is now on the exempt list. He also served seven years in Company E, Seventh Regiment, New Jersey
National Guard; a past councillor of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; past dep- uty and chancellor commander of Tennent Lodge, Knights of Pythias; is now secretary of Keith Council, Royal Arcanum; a former member of the New Jersey Editorial Association, a member of the New Jersey and Monmouth County His- torical societies, and the Sons of the American Revolution. He was educated at the Freehold Institute and Freehold High School, and graduated from the latter in 1879. He married, September 25, 1884, Hannie Virginia Clayton, born January 23, 1865, at Clarksburg, daughter of Charles H. and Elizabeth (Conover) Clayton, ceremony per- formed by Rev. Louis A. Bearmore, and she died March 17, 1901, leaving the following children: 1. Jennie Long, born October 7, 1885; married Charles I. Harris, of Jersey City, ceremony per- formed by Rev. J. F. Milbank at St. Peter's Pro- testant Episcopal Church, December 15, 1912; they have one son, Douglas Redfern, seven years old (1922). 2. Trillie Hyers, born July 19, 1891; married, January 3, 1914, by Rev. J. F. Milbank at St. Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church, to Walter Lewis Cartwright, who died March 11, 1922, at his late residence, No. 11 Conover street, Freehold, and leaves a widow and a six year old daughter, Virginia Cartwright. 3. Maxcy, Jr., born April 14, 1893; served eight years in the United States Navy, was one of the honor men at Vera Cruz, and attained the rank of chief yeoman during the World War, serving on the transport "America" and destroyer " Bernadou;" unmarried (1922).
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN STRONG BROWN- The three decades spent by Benjamin F. S. Brown in journalistic work caused his name to become widely known in Monmouth, his native county, and along the entire North Jersey coast. Valuable as was his work as a newspaper editor and publisher, he was equally prominent in public life, in the fra- ternal relation, in military affairs, and in the civic improvement. He was a man of energy and public spirit, serving well the communities and institu- tions with which he was connected. His life was spent in "Old Monmouth," and while he gave him- self largely to journalism, he touched county life at many points and left an indelible impression upon his time.
He was a descendant in the sixth generation of the family founded by John and Susanne (Rezeau) Brown, who were married on Staten Island, New York, in 1735-86, she a daughter of Pierre and Dorcas Rezeau, and granddaughter of Rene and Anna (Coursier) Rezeau, Huguenots, who fled from France in 1685. The line of descent from John and Susanne (Rezeau) Brown to Benjamin F. S. Brown is through the founder's son, Peter Brown, and his wife, Hannah (Scoby) Brown; their son, Lewis Peter Brown, who served in the Revolutionary War, and his first wife, Margaret (Blue) Brown; their son, Benjamin Lewis Brown, and his wife, Susanna
Maxcy Applegate
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Beny . I. S. Brown
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Rezeau (Brown) Brown; their son, Cornelius Har- denburg Brown, and his wife, Emily Frances (Strong-Jefferson) Brown; their son, Benjamin F. S. Brown, and his wife, Jeanette (Selleck) Brown. Peter Brown, of the second generation, was a sol- dier of the Revolution, serving in Captain John Dey's company, Second Regiment, Middlesex county, New Jersey Militia, and in Captain James Morgan's company of the same regiment, his ser- vice recorded as from March 3, 1777, until March 5, 1778, under three calls. .
Susanna Rezeau Brown, wife of Benjamin Lewis Brown, of the fourth generation, was a daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Warne) Brown, granddaugh- ter of John Warne, a Revolutionary soldier, and Mary Warne, and a descendant of Thomas Warne, one of the twenty-four proprietors of East Jersey, and his wife Mary, daughter of Robert and Rebecca (Stanley) Lord, and widow of Thomas Carhart. Rebecca (Stanley) Lord was a daughter of Captain Christopher and Susanna Stanley, who came in "The Elizabeth and Ann" in 1635, and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. Daniel Brown was also a son of John and Susanne (Rezeau) Brown, and brother of Peter Brown, and he too served in the Revolutionary War.
Cornelius Hardenburg Brown, of the fifth gen- eration, was born at Cheesequake, New Jersey, No- vember 3, 1830, and died September 5, 1905. In 1847 he began learning his trade with his brother, Thomas S. R. Brown, then the principal builder of Keyport, New Jersey, and in time succeeded the latter in business. It was stated on Mr. Brown's authority that until the time of his passing he had been engaged in his branch of the construction work on three-fourths of the buildings in Keyport. His first important contract was the building of the Keyport First Baptist Church in 1860, and he erect- ed many buildings, widely scattered, notably: The new courthouse at Freehold, after the fire of the 70's, Colonel Austin H. Patterson being associated with Mr. Brown on that contract; he built the Methodist church at Red Bank; most of the build- ings at Brookdale Stock Farm, near Holmdel; a large plant at Lorillard; rebuilt Everetts' Hotel in New York City; also a row of tenements in that city; many farmhouses between Holmdel and Key- port, and a number of residences in Matawan. Cornelius H. Brown was a Democrat in politics, but very independent, served as a member of the board of commissioners, but took little part in public life. He was a member of the Keyport Methodist Episcopal Church from 1852 until his passing, and for more than thirty years was a member of the board of stewards.
He married, January 27, 1856, Emeline Frances (Strong) Jefferson, widow of William Jesse Jeffer- son, and daughter of Charles Dibble Strong, born in Midde Chinnock, Somersetshire, England, and Frances Wymond (Gill) Strong, her parents born in England, her father a bookbinder, book seller, stationer and publisher, specializing in the litera-
ture of the Methodist Episcopal church. For many years Mr. Strong was manager of the Methodist Book Room in Boston. He moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1858, and became head of the Strong Hardware House, Strong, Hackett & Company. He was prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, being grand master of the order in Min- nesota, and the first grand patriarch of the First Grand Encampment in Minnesota. Frances Wy- mond (Gill) Strong, first wife of Charles Dibble Strong, was born in Torpoint, Cornwall, England, and was married in Boston, Massachusetts, August 1, 1828; she was a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Hill) Gill, and granddaughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Spaer) Gill, of Cornwall, England. Emeline Frances Strong, daughter of Charles Dibble and Frances Wymond (Gill) Strong, married (first) William Jesse Jefferson, (second) Cornelius H. Brown. Cornelius H. and Emeline F. (Strong- Jefferson) Brown were the parents of three chil- dren: Benjamin F. S., of further mention; Jose- phine Adelia, a former teacher, now librarian of Keyport Free Public Library; William Jesse, born December 21, 1868, died the same day.
Benjamin F. S. Brown, eldest of the children of Cornelius H. and Emeline Frances (Strong-Jeffer- son) Brown, was born at the residence of his par- ents in Keyport, New Jersey, November 2, 1856, and died while visiting his son, Cornelius Merrill, in Buffalo, New York, August 25, 1920. He was educated in the public schools and academy at Key- port, finishing at Glenwood Collegiate Institute at Matawan, New Jersey. While his father was a prominent builder, the lad did not care for that trade and business, but instead became a printer's apprentice and continued with "The Keyport Week- ly" for some time. He then studied law under Day- ton & Taylor, of the Monmouth bar, but cared little for that profession and returned to the printer's trade. In the year that followed he was a com- positor on the "New York Tribune" and in the plant of the Western Newspaper Union in New York, and for one season was on the "Asbury Park Journal."
That ended his career as a journeyman printer, he becoming the owner of the "Matawan Journal" in February, 1890, and conducted it very success- fully until November, 1906, when he bought the paper on which he had learned the printer's trade, "The Keyport Weekly," from E. D. Petteys, and moved the plant of the "Matawan Journal" to Key- port. On June 12, 1918, he bought out the first copy of the "Keansburg Beacon," and so quickly did that paper find its reading public that the first year the subscription list reached one thousand. The "Beacon" was a valuable asset for Keansburg and led in the development of that section, the borough incorporation being one of the results of Mr. Brown's public spirit. He published the paper from his Keyport plant until his passing, when it was sold to the Beacon Publishing Company, and is now edited by Chester Beaman.
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In November, 1914, Mr. Brown bought the "Sea Bright Sentinel," of Sea Bright, New Jersey, and the "Monmouth Press," of Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey. The "Sentinel," established in 1889, was published for many years by William J. Leonard, and after its purchase by Mr. Brown was published by him until 1918, when it was abandoned, owing to war conditions. The name of the "Monmouth Press" was changed to the "Atlantic Highlander," and in November, 1918, Mr. Brown, who bought the "Journal," of Atlantic Highlands, consolidated the two papers under the name, "Atlantic Highlands Journal." The original "Journal," established in 1880 by Austin C. Hart, was published for several years by Henry D. Hart. In 1917 Mr. Brown bought the paper and merged it with the "Atlantic Highlander," which he had founded in 1914. On the death of Mr. Brown the "Atlantic Highlands Journal" was sold to F. S. Berggren, who with his son, Louis, edits and publishes the paper. "The Matawan Journal," Mr. Brown's first newspaper property, was preceded in Matawan by several en- terprises.
The first newspaper published in this locality (Matawan) was edited by Philip Freneau, an ac- count of which will be given in the sketch of Mount Pleasant. No further attempt of this kind was made here until 1844, when Edgar Hoyt established the "Middletown Point Union," which was continued about two years, after which the press and material were moved to Stamford, Connecticut. About 1848 George C. Waite started "The Democratic Banner and Monmouth Advertiser." He sold it to George W. Bell and Charles W. Fountain, in the spring of 1851. It was a six-column paper, twenty-four by thirty-eight inches. On March 25, 1852, they sold it to Henry Morford, who soon after changed the name to "New Jersey Standard." After remaining about a year he removed to Keyport, where the paper continued to be published until 1859, when the plant was moved to Red Bank. In time it was sold to William A. Sweeney, who changed the name to "The Red Bank Standard." The "Atlantic" was started here by - O'Brien in 1853, and continued some time, then moved to Keyport, and ceased to exist. Jacob R. Schenck purchased the press and material and opened an office in Matawan, and in 1857 published the "New Jersey Weekly Times," and soon after added the name "Keyport Weekly Advertiser," which was continued until 1862, when it ceased to be published. "The Matawan Journal" was established in July, 1869, the first issue being July 25th. It was originally four columns, and in 1871 was changed to six, and in 1879 to seven col- umns. At first it was independent in politics, but in 1878 became Democratic. David A. Bell, the founder of the paper, published it until February, 1890, when it was sold to Mr. Brown, who turned the policy of the paper to Republican and likewise turned the vote of the community.
In 1862 B. F. Underwood, F. D. Woodruff and Jacob R. Smith started a job printing office on
Front street, Keyport, under the firm name of Underwood & Company. This was the forerunner of "The Keyport Weekly." On September 24, 1863, they founded the "Keyport Press," a three column, semi-monthly paper, which, after running about six months, ceased to be issued, the enterprise proving a failure. Mr. Underwood withdrew from the busi- ness, which was continued by Smith & Woodruff until 1886, when they sold out to G. W. & C. S. Henderson, who founded the "Weekly Star" on March 7, 1866. Its publication was continued but a short time, and the office came back to Smith & Woodruff's hands. Mr. Smith bought Mr. Woodruff out in March, 1867, and in January, 1871, sold out to Dr. Wilmer Hodgson, who immediately started the "Keyport Weekly." On December 9, 1871, he sold out to Dr. E. Mckinney & Brother. On Janu- ary 1, 1877, W. F. LeRoy bought the office. The office was sold to Charles E. Close & Company, April 9, 1881, but it was soon returned to the former owner. Mr. LeRoy sold out to Gilmore & Clay, October 22, 1881. They sold the office to Mr. Le- Roy, June 22, 1882, when the paper was run by his sons, M. D. and H. D. LeRoy, until December, 1882, when it was purchased by E. D. W. Petteys. It con- tinued under his editorial management until No- vember 5, 1906, when it was sold to Benjamin F. S. Brown. Mr. Brown continued in the ownership and editorial management of the "Weekly" until his passing in 1920, and then was succeeded by his daughter, Miss Jeannie Mabel Brown, and his son, Herbert Franklin Brown, they having been active- ly associated with their father in his publishing en- terprises as publisher of all of the journals named at the Central Printing Office in Keyport. They continue the "Keyport Weekly," a sixteen page paper, independent Republican in politics, and the "Matawan Journal," an eight page paper, also in- dependent Republican in politics.
Mr. Brown was a man of many activities. He was one of the important factors in obtaining a graded school system for Matawan, and a member of the Board of Education under which it was es- tablished. He was one of the incorporators of the Monmouth and Middlesex Electric Light, Heat and Power Company, which brought the trolley to Matawan and Keyport; aided to secure a water works system for Matawan, to promote the indus- tries of the section; was a member, under successive governors, of the Inland Deeper Waterways Com- mission; was the friend of the Matawan Library and a generous donor; and his part in securing the Raritan Guard Memorial Library building in Key- port was a most important one. A Republican in politics, he was appointed postmaster at Matawan by President Mckinley in May, 1897, and again recommended by President Roosevelt in April, 1902. In 1912 he was the Progressive and Republican can- didate for Congress, but was defeated. In connec- tion with his other enterprises he conducted an in- surance and real estate business, which grew to large proportions. He was a private of Company
Formerly known as the Burrowes Mansion ; now the Homestead of the family of the late Benj. F. S. Brown
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BIOGRAPHICAL
G, Third Regiment, New Jersey National Guard, from March 6, 1877, until honorably discharged, January 4, 1885, with the rank of sergeant.
Mr. Brown was State councilor of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics in 1902, hav- ing previously been vice-councilor. He was a past councilor of Columbia Council, No. 77, of that order; past councilor, Pride of Columbia, No. 37, Daughters of Liberty; member of Matawan Lodge, No. 142, Knights of Pythias; past grand of Knicker- bocker Lodge, No. 52, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past patriarch of Monmouth Encampment, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; charter mem- ber and past regent of Glenwood Council, Royal Arcanum, now consolidated with Coronal Council, of Keyport; and member of the Raritan Guard Veteran Association. He was a member of the New Jersey Editorial Association, and of the National Editor's Association.
Benjamin F. S. Brown married, in New York City, June 29, 1884, Rev. James A. Westervelt officiating, Jeanette Selleck, born there September 14, 1858, daughter of Sands and Mary (Smith) Selleck, her father a manufacturer of baskets. Mr. and Mrs. Brown were the parents of seven children: 1. Jeannie Mabel, born April 5, 1885, in Keyport, New Jersey; a graduate of Centenary Collegiate In- stitute, Hackettstown, New Jersey, class of 1904. She was associated with her father from gradua- tion until his passing in 1920, then with her brother, Herbert F., continued the editorial management of the "Keyport Weekly" and the "Matawan Journal," the estate disposing of the other Brown news- papers, "Keansburg Beacon" and "Atlantic High- lands Journal." Miss Brown is a member of the New Jersey Press Association, the first woman editor to be elected to membership in that body, her father long a member of the executive committee. 2. Charles Bradford Strong, born in New York City, October 24, 1887, graduated at Matawan pub- lic school and Trainer's Business College of Perth Amboy. Since 1907 he has been in business in New York City, connected with Swift & Company. He married, October 7, 1918, Matilda Thompson Con- over, and resides at Woodcliff-on-the-Hudson, New Jersey. They have two children: Vivian Lois and Charles Bradford Brown. 3. Herbert Franklin, born in Brooklyn, New York, October 26, 1889, and educated in Matawan public schools. He is now publisher of the "Keyport Weekly" and "Matawan Journal," associated with his sister, Jeannie Mabel Brown. He married, October 18, 1916, Mildred Van Mater, and they have a daughter, Geraldine. 4. Cornelius Merrill, born in Matawan, New Jersey, January 28, 1892, a graduate of Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, A. B., class of 1914, A. M., class of 1917; now assistant professor in chemistry in the University of Buffalo, New York. He served in the United States Army, September, 1918, to January, 1919. He married, May 17, 1919, Natalie Elder, and they are the parents of a daugh- ter, Janet Elder. 5. Mildred Josephine, born in
Matawan, New Jersey, September 29, 1894, gradu- ate of Matawan High School, 1910; New Jersey State Normal School, Trenton, 1912; she was a teacher in New Jersey and New York City public schools. She was married, October 1, 1921, to Ralph Waldo Herrick, of East Orange, New Jer- sey, by the Rev. Charles H. Bruce, D. D., Presby- terian minister at Matawan, New Jersey. 6. Ger- aldine, born in Matawan, May 27, 1897, graduate of Matawan High School, 1914; Mt. Holyoke Col- lege, South Hadley, Massachusetts, 1918; now en- gaged in a banking position in New York City. 7. Bernice Wymond, born in Matawan, October 11, 1905, a graduate of Matawan High School, 1920, now a student in New Jersey College for Women, New Brunswick, New Jersey. The family home of the Browns in Matawan, New Jersey, was and yet is the old historic Burrowes Mansion, which was the scene of a long ago tragedy, and which is de- scribed at length below.
"Historic Houses of New Jersey," by W. Jay Mills, published by J. B. Lippincott Company, Philadelphia, in 1902.
The Burrowes Mansion - Where the Burrowes Revolutionary Tragedy Occurred
The Burrowes Mansion, still standing in the pic- turesque village of Matawan, noted for its old troos, old churches and old dwellings, is very much like the former Mount Pleasant Hall. They were both erected in the first half of the eighteenth century, and tradition says by the same architect, a native of Elizabethtown, whose name is lost to posterity.
John Burrowes, or "Corn-King Burrowes," as he was sometimes called, became its owner a few years after its completion. He was a wealthy pro- duce merchant, with a line of vessels running be- tween Keyport and New York City. Back of the old mansion today one of his storehouses or gra- naries is an interesting village landmark. Out of its weather-beaten gray doors, in the long ago, his slaves would bring bags of yellow grain and load the carts in the lane. The driver of the first cart would start his patient horses, and then the pro- cession was off. Down the hilly, saffron-colored road from the house, winding serpentine to Kear- ney-Port, it would go until it reached a wharf where a clumsy white-sailed vessel was in readiness to bear it off to the markets of the distant city. The owner of the caravan always rode on horse- back in the rear, and he was ofttimes accompanied by his faithful wife and some of the children of the happy household.
The first New Jersey company formed for the Revolutionary War was mustered in the garden of the Burrowes home. Its organizer was the son of the "Corn King," John Burrowes, Jr., appointed a major, and Jonathan Forman, who became his brother-in-law. The latter just left the College of New Jersey and was not yet of age. Andrew Brown, an old sea captain, marshalled the large meeting of men, women and children to take leave of fathers, brothers, husbands, and friends. The occasion was
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one of great solemnity, and was conducted with patriotic firmness and subdued grief. When the roll had been called the drum and fife struck up the air of "Duncan Davie," and the first New Jersey company marched away to embark for Long Island and join General Washington's forces.
Many of John Burrowes' quaint old letters are in existence today, and they show him to have been a loving husband and father. A very interesting one te his wife, dated June 5, 1769, tells of his arriving at New York just before nightfall and finding all business suspended on account of the king's birthday. He wrote of "joy fires" burning along the streets, and "fine company moving abroad," but on every page he tells in words faded but still legible of "yearnings" for the dear ones at Middletown.
Mrs. Burrowes was the former wife of her hua- band's early partner in the mercantile business, and at his death she was left with an estate considered very large for those days. She was a woman of superior refinement and delicate fancy, and she loved her great mansion so ardently that she called it, in her romantic fashion of the times, "the en- chanted castle." In a letter received by her from a Mrs. Falck, a former governess to the children, there is reference to it by that name. At the time Mrs. Falck had left her service and was expecting her husband from London. It is a charming letter for one penned nearly a century and a half ago, and one reading it cannot help feeling that our ancestors were not the shadowy creatures we are wont to picture them. It reads:
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