USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 19
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Wesley Engine Company; a director of the Asbury Park Building and Loan Association; a director of the Asbury Park and Ocean Grove Bank; and for many years a director of the Chamber of Commerce. For ten years he was a member of the local board of education, during which time he served as presi- dent and district clerk, and as chairman of the high school building committee. He also served on the State Board of Education for eight years, having been appointed by Governor Voorhees, and became a member of the New Jersey Geographical Survey Commission by appointment of Governor Fort.
A Republican in politics, Mr. Appleby has been active in the party since 1896, when he became a delegate to the National Republican Convention. and stumped the State for ex-President Mckinley He was one of the party that accompanied Presi- dent Mckinley on his trip from Vice-President Hobart's home to Ocean Grove in 1899, when the Auditorium at the latter place served as a rostrum for a number of talented speakers. At the time of the big political meeting in Asbury Park in July, 1900, Congressman Appleby was temporary chair- man, while the late Senator Mark Hanna filled that position permanently. He served seven years as a member of the Common Council of Asbury Park, and was president of the board for five years. He was acting mayor of Asbury Park when the late James A. Bradley resigned in order that his beach front holdings might be purchased by the city from him, and so well satisfied were the people of this city with the efficient and business-like ad- ministration Congressman Appleby gave the city during the short term, that they elected him to the same office for two full terms. In 1920 Theodore Franklin Appleby was nominated by his party to represent the Third Congressional District, and it is interesting to note here the editorial comment from the "Spring Lake Gazette" at that time: "T. Franklin Appleby of Asbury Park is in the field for the Republican nomination, and that he will receive it seems now a certainty. He is a straight Amer- ican through and through, forceful, aggressive and capable. No better choice could be made."
It is needless to mention that he was elected, and now, 1921, is a member of the committee on bank- ing and currency and the committee of elections of presidents and vice-presidents at Washington. He has always been an ardent supporter of equal suf- frage, and was active in the contest waged for full voting rights in this State when the question was presented to the electorate in the form of a refer- endum at a special election in 1915. He is in favor of a bonus to former service men who were in- capacitated in the World War; believes in a square deal for capital and labor alike; and is always a prohibition candidate. He affiliates with Asbury Park Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics; and holds membership in the Republican Club of As- bury Park.
In 1889 Congressman Appleby was united in mar- riage with Alice Hoffman, of Lebanon, Hunterdon
county, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Appleby are the parents of three children: Stewart Hoffman, whose sketch follows; Richard Henry, born May 12, 1891, a director of the T. Franklin Appleby Company; Theodore F., a sketch of whom follows. He is a golf enthusiast and holds membership in the Deal Golf Club. Since taking up his residence in Washington he has lived at the Wardman Park Hotel; his home in Asbury Park is at No. 901 Grand avenue.
Congressman Appleby is a broad-minded man, who places a correct valuation upon life, its oppor- tunities and its privileges, and in the course of a useful and honorable career has wrought along lines of the greatest good to the greatest number, his activities in various fields proving of great ben- efit to the community at large. He stands today among the most honored and eminent residents of Monmouth county.
STEWART HOFFMAN APPLEBY is a native son of Asbury Park, where he now resides, honored and respected by all who know him. He has been in the real estate and insurance business since 1911, and understands it in principle and detail, his ex- perience and knowledge being a salient element in his success. He has always taken an active inter- est in community affairs, being in hearty sympathy with all movements to advance the permanent inter- ests of the city, and has won a wide circle of friends, who hold him in the highest esteem.
Stewart Hoffman Appleby was born in Asbury Park, New Jersey, May 17, 1890, the eldest son of Theodore F. (T. Frank) and Alice (Hoffman) Ap- pleby. He was educated in the public schools of this city, at Blair Academy, and Mercersburg Acad- emy, from which he was graduated with the class of 1909, and at Rutgers College, where he finished with the graduation class of 1913. Always an am- bitious lad, he began work at the age of thirteen by devoting his summers to employment which he obtained at the Asbury Park Post Office, where he remained for three years, and then at the Asbury Park and Ocean Grove Bank, where he labored for three summers. Upon finishing his college course he secured a position with Foote & Sherill, stock brokers, at Poughkeepsie, New York, but resigned four months later and went to Bradley Beach, New Jersey, where he became identified with the real estate business, associated with Mrs. Mayo, of that place. In 1911 he came to Asbury Park and asso- ciated himself with his father in the latter's real estate and insurance business, and five years later, in 1916, when the business was incorporated, Stew- art Hoffman Appleby was made vice-president of the organization, which office he has continued to fill up to the present time. Mr. Appleby has always been a developer of real estate and a builder of high class residences, having built nearly a dozen houses and that many business properties, and is a great believer in maintaining property up-to-date by constant improvements. The records of the county clerk's office show over two hundred deeds
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MONMOUTH COUNTY
and leases executed by him. He is secretary and treasurer of the Shark River Improvement Com- pany, which has eight stores at Avon, New Jersey, and is ex-president and founder of the Avon Land Company, owner of over one hundred lots. He is the president of the Mattison Realty Company, sec- retary of the Reliance Realty Company, and one- half owner of both the Bradley Realty and Stewart Realty companies. Mr. Appleby has been a great believer in giving long term leases, some leases given being as long as twenty-one years.
On May 17, 1917, Mr. Appleby enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a private for four years, was promoted to corporal in three months, promoted regimental supply sergeant in six months, and discharged May 17, 1921.
He is a member of the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce; Chi Phi fraternity, Delta Chapter, Rut- gers College; Alpha Delta Alpha, Blair Academy; Asbury Park Wheelmen; American Legion Post, No. 24; Kiwanis Club; Brotherhood of St. Andrews; Republican Club; Young Men's Christian Associa- tion; the Inlet Tennis Club, and manager of the Kiwanis Club baseball team. In religion he is an Episcopalian, and attends Trinity Church of that denomination.
At Avon, New Jersey, on June 17, 1914, Stewart Hoffman Appleby was united in marriage with Mar- guerite E. Kohlhepp, a native of New Brunswick, daughter of the late George and Katherine Kohl- hepp, the former at one time a brick manufacturer of South River. Mr. and Mrs. Appleby are the parents of one child, Kathryn Alice, born Feb- ruary 11, 1920.
THEODORE FRANKLIN APPLEBY-Among the younger generation of business men of Asbury Park, New Jersey, is Theodore Franklin Appleby, secretary of the T. Frank Appleby Real Estate and Insurance Company. Mr. Appleby was born in this city, May 14, 1895, the son of Theodore F. (T. Frank) and Alice (Hoffman) Appleby, whose sketch precedes this.
The boy received the early part of his education in the public schools of his native place. He en- tered Bordentown Military Institute in 1910, from which he was graduated in 1913. He then matric- ulated at Amherst College. Mr. Appleby, imme- diately finishing college, enlisted in the United States Marine Corps as a private. This was on May 29, 1917. His early training at military school soon won him a commission as second lieutenant, in which capacity he served until his discharge, on December 29, 1919.
Mr. Appleby is secretary of the T. Frank Appleby Company, which was established by his father in 1885. He is also treasurer of the Reliance Realty Company, of this city. Mr. Appleby is & member of Chi Phi fraternity; the American Legion; Am- herst Alumni, Rotary Club, and a director of the Asbury Park Building and Loan Association, as well as a director of the Asbury Park and Ocean Grove Bank. Mr. Appleby has always been interested in
athletics, and while at preparatory school and col lege won his letter in all major sports.
On November 29, 1916, at Asbury Park, New Jer sey, Theodore Franklin Appleby was united in mar riage with Marie Estelle Winsor, daughter of Henr, C. Winsor, president of the Asbury Park and Ocea Grove Bank. Mr. and Mrs. Appleby are the parent of two children: Marie Winsor, born May 8, 1919 Jean Franklin, born January 25, 1921.
FRED B. BURDGE, D.D.S., one of the most suc cessful of the practicing dentists of Asbury Park New Jersey, where he has been active since th year 1903, is a native of Manasquan, New Jersey his birth having occurred there June 13, 1882. H. is a son of George B. and Mary (Bennett) Burdge like himself natives of Manasquan. George B Burdge is manager of the Atlantic Coast Gas Com pany.
The childhood of Dr. Burdge was passed in As bury Park, and it was here that the preparatory portion of his education was received. After grad uating from the local high school with the class o 1899, he entered the dental department of the Uni versity of Pennsylvania, having decided to maki that profession his career. He took the usual den tal course, and graduated with the class of 1903 taking the degree of Doctor of Dental Surgery He then returned to Asbury Park and opened hi office in the Kinmouth building. Since that time he has made his headquarters at this place, wher he has developed a large and high-class practice, &‹ that he is now regarded among the leaders of hi profession. He specializes in general surgery.
On April 8, 1918, Dr. Burdge enlisted in the United States navy and was assigned to transpor duty, receiving the commission of lieutenant, senior grade, and served as follows: Nine months on the transport "Modawaska"; then was off the coast of Ireland on a submarine chaser; four months at the naval base off the coast of North Carolina on the U. S. S. "Dixie", the supply boat for the torped‹ squadron. He received his honorable discharge from the navy at Philadelphia, May 15, 1919, anc then returned to Asbury Park and resumed prac. tice. He is a Mason, a member of Asbury Park Lodge, No. 128, Free and Accepted Masons; Stand. ard Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Long Branch Corson Commandery, Knights Templar. He is affiliated with the National Dental Association; New Jersey State Dental Association; Monmouth County Dental Society; is dental examiner for the United States Public Health Commission for Mon. mouth county; and also holds membership in the Asbury Park Country Club; the Asbury Park Fish- ing Club; Asbury Park Gun Club; and the Houstor Club, of Philadelphia.
At Asbury Park, New Jersey, on October 30 1919, Dr. Burdge was united in marriage with Mabel Smith. They have one child, a daughter, Alice Elizabeth. Dr. and Mrs. Burdge reside at No. 912 Fifth avenue.
Altan Beckman
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BIOGRAPHICAL
ALSTON BEEKMAN-For twenty years Mr. Beekman has practiced law in Red Bank, New Jersey his practice beginning at about the time his father, George Crawford Beekman, was retiring, after over forty years' honorable practice at the Monmouth county bar. Alston Beekman is a grandson of Rev. Jacob Ten Broeck Beekman, a minister of the Dutch Reformed church, and no man was more highly re- spected in Monmouth county than "Dominie" Beek- man. He was a son of Samuel Beekman, born in Somerset county, who married Helena Ten Broeck, daughter of Cornelius and Margaret (Louw) Ten- Broeck. Samuel Beekman served as chaplain of a cavalry company and during the later years of his life was always called "captain." Captain Samuel Beekman was a son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Wal- dron) Beekman, of Somerset county, and a grand- son of Martin and Elizabeth (Waldron) Beekman (the name Elizabeth Waldron a coincidence, both wives bearing it). Martin Beekman was the eldest son of Hendrick and Annitja (Quackenboss) Beek- man, and grandson of Martin Beekman or Beeck- man, the founder of the family, a settler from Hol- land in 1638 at Schodack Landing, eight miles south of Albany, New York, on the east bank of the Hud- son river. The history of this famous Dutch family is of interest, but this review will be confined to the three Monmouth county generations: Rev. Jacob Ten Broeck Beekman; his son, George Crawford Beekman; and . his son, Alston Beekman, the two latter now living in Red Bank (1921), the father now eighty-two years of age.
Jacob Ten Broeck Beekman was born in a brick house in Somerset county, New Jersey (still stand- ing and in use), April 10, 1801, died in Middletown Village, Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 23, 1875. He was a graduate of Union College, Schen- ectady, New York, and studied theology at the Theo- logical Seminary, New Brunswick, New Jersey, and in 1826 was licensed a member of the Dutch Re- formed church. He served the old Dutch Church of Middletown township, Monmouth county, for ten years, and did a great deal of missionary work in other parts of the country. In 1836 he resigned his pastorate and settled in Middletown Village, and there built a new church, which he served for three years without pay and at the same time operated a farm. He was buried from the church in Middle- town which he caused to be built. He married Ann Crawford, born February 22, 1801, died May 18, 1876, daughter of George and Eleanor (Schanck) Crawford. Jacob Ten Broeck and Ann (Crawford) Beekman were the parents of three son: Theodore; George Crawford, with whose career this review deals; and Edwin Beekman.
George Crawford Beekman, named after his ma- ternal grandfather, was born July 2, 1839, in the same building in Middletown Village in which his mother was born, that house being accidentally de- stroyed by fire in 1892. At the age of fifteen he entered Princeton College, and four years later was graduated with the class of '59, receiving his A. B. and A. M. in course. He began the study of
law in the office of Joel Parker, of Freehold, later New Jersey's war governor, and in 1868 was licensed by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as an attorney- at-law and in 1866 as a counsellor. In 1863 Joel Parker, his former preceptor in the law, was elected governor of New Jersey. Mr. Beekman grew rapid- ly in a good practice, and in 1869 was appointed the first judge of Monmouth county under the act of 1869, an office he held until the winter of 1873, when he resigned and resumed the practice of law in Freehold. During the three years Mr. Beekman served as judge he tried many civil and criminal cases, only a few of these being carried to the higher courts for review, and none of these were reversed or even modified, but all were affirmed. He was counsel in some of the most famous of Monmouth county law suits, including the George W. Patterson case for the prosecution; the Thomas Stout case against the estate of Henry Seabrook for the widow; the James P. Allaire will case; the Stewart Brown vs. McIntosh usury case; the famous libel case of John W. Gaskell against Rev. Charles Perinchief, et al .; the Bullock murder case; and many others. The New Jersey Law and Equity re- ports show many of these cases. For eight years he was a partner with Holmes W. Murphy, prac- ticing as Beekman & Murphy, but in 1882 that partnership was amicably dissolved and from that time until his removal to Red Bank, in 1903, Mr. Beekman practiced law alone. He drew the article incorporating the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, and was attorney for the association for many years. He also was for several years attorney for the Monmouth County Board of Free- holders.
For forty years he practiced law at the county seat and during that time the records show that he never sued any one on his own account. If his clients failed to pay he let the claim go. . After his removal to Red Bank he retired absolutely from the practice of law and at his residence on the banks of the Shrewsbury, situated most beautifully for a quiet life, he yet resides. "Instead of wrangling be- fore juries and weary judges, settling the quarrels and troubles of other men and women and trying to reconcile the laws made by legislators ignorant of laws already made by over one hundred legislatures of the same stripe, he reclines under the trees by the river side, with none to molest him with their complaints and quarrels,-at peace with the world and himself."
Mr. Beekman cast his first vote in 1860 for the three Douglas electors on the Democratic ticket and those were the only ones elected on the ticket. He took a strong anti-slavery stand at that time and until 1876 acted with the Democratic party. In that year he was a delegate to the Democratic Na- tional Convention at St. Louis, Missouri, but he came away from that convention so disillusioned that he resolved never again to take part in another political convention under party call. From that onward he was an independent voter, and in 1878 he was the candidate for State Senator, chosen by
Mon .- 2-2
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MONMOUTH COUNTY
lifelong Democrats to run independently against who owns and cultivates the old Beekman farm George W. Patterson, the Democratic nominee, who at Middletown Village, which has been in the family was bitterly opposed on account of his previous more than a century, and where stands the old homestead in which Sir Henry Clinton and Lord Cornwallis were sheltered for a short time after the battle of Monmouth, the place then being owned by John Taylor. George C. Beekman is a member of the Dutch Reformed church and for many years he was very active in church work. record. This nomination was not sought by Judge Beekman, but his name was sprung on the gathering by General Charles T. Haight, and he was in a manner forced to accept. The Republicans en- dorsed him, and he was elected by a majority of 500, and for the first time since 1850 the regular nominee of the Democratic party in Monmouth county was defeated. He pursued a strictly in- dependent course in the Senate, and it was said that "by Senator Beekman's votes no one could determine which party he belonged to." But he did get through some needed legislation. He was chairman of the joint committee of the State Library in 1880, and after a careful examination he found it was al- most exclusively a law library used principally by Trenton lawyers and judges. He drew a report recommending the purchase of standard works use- ful to other professions and occupations, also the collection of local histories, pamphlets, etc., relat- ing to any part of New Jersey. This report was agreed to and signed by other members of the com- mittee. His term expired in 1880.
While law judge, 1870-73, when the hours hung heavy, Judge Beekman spent considerable time in searching old Monmouth county records in the clerk's office. Some of these researches he gave to the newspapers, and at a later date, James S. Yard had these articles with others written by Edwin Salter and some by himself published in a book, "Old Times in Old Monmouth."
Judge Beekman wrote a great deal for the Free- hold "Transcript," Monmouth "Democrat," and Monmouth "Inquirer", many articles on political questions, tales founded on local traditions and also facts relating to the early history of Monmouth county, this being done as purely a "labor of love." Many of these have been preserved in "Old Times in Old Monmouth" and "Early Dutch Settlers of Monmouth County," published by the Freehold "Transcript," one hundred and twenty-five copies only being issued at that time, but a second edition has since been issued.
Judge Beekman is a member of Olive Branch, Lodge, No. 16, Free and Accepted Masons, of Free- hold, New Jersey, and he is the oldest living past master of that lodge, having served as its master for four years back in sixties.
Mr. Beekman married, at Freehold, November 5, 1877, Laura B. Alston, daughter of Abraham Decker and Caroline (Bareford) Alston, and granddaughter of David Alston, of Staten Island, the family resid- ing prior to the Revolution at or near Woodbridge, Middlesex county, New Jersey. Laura B. Alston was born March 2, 1852, sister of Thomas D. Alston, a Union cavalryman, killed in action in Mississippi. Mr. and Mrs. Beekman are the parents of four children: Alston, of further mention; Jacob Ten Broeck, of Red Bank; Anna Crawford, died Decem- ber 16, 1902, at Freehold, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Red Bank; Edwin Laurens Beekman,
Alston Beekman, eldest son of George Crawford and Laura B. (Alston) Beekman, was born in Freehold, New Jersey, July 1, 1878. After com- pleting his school years in Freehold he began the study of law under the preceptorship of his honored father. While a law student he acted as reporter for the Freehold "Transcript", for New York and Philadelphia papers and for the Newark "Evening News." In 1903 he was admitted to the New Jer- sey bar as an attorney and in 1906 as a counsellor. He began practice in Red Bank in 1903, has al- ways practiced alone, and has won his way to a commanding position at the Monmouth bar. He is counsel for several banks, and was engaged to or- ganize the Broad Street National Bank of Red Bank in 1919, and is the present counsel of that thriving institution.
Mr. Beekman is the present and the first president of the Monmouth County Chamber of Commerce; member of Mystic Brotherhood, Lodge No. 21, Free and Accepted Masons, of Red Bank; is a thirty- second degree member of New Jersey Consistory, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite; a noble of Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and a member of Shrewsbury Lodge, No. 72, Knights of Pythias. In religious faith he is a Presbyterian; in politics a Democrat, and between the years 1908-14 was active in party affairs. He led a successful fight for the incorporation of Fair Haven Borough, and in 1920 organized the Broad Street Property Owners' Association, an organiza- tion which has done much for the permanent wel- fare of Red Bank. In 1911 he served the borough of Red Bank as attorney, and has served the bor- oughs of Rumson and Fair Haven in the same capacity. He is a member of the Monmouth County, New Jersey State and American Bar associations. During the World War period, 1917- 18, Mr. Beekman served on several active com- mittees, and was chairman of the "United Drive", which was the means of raising $15,000 in Red Bank borough alone for the use of Red Cross, Young Men's Christian Association, Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus, Young Women's Christian Association, and other kindred organizations. He served for several years as chairman of the Civilian Relief Committee of Monmouth County Chapter of the Red Cross. In younger years he served a term of enlistment in the Second Troop, New Jersey Cavalry; was a member of the Volunteer Fire De- partment, and is now a member of the Exempt Firemen's Association.
Alston Beekman married, November 15, 1906, Mary M. Craig, daughter of John W. Craig, of Ten-
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W. aSweeney yceny
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BIOGRAPHICAL
nent, New Jersey, her father now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Beekman are the parents of two children: Alston (2), born May 15, 1911; and Mary, born March 14, 1915. The family home is No. 235 Broad street, Red Bank.
ARTHUR ALLEN PATTERSON-From 1872 until 1913 there were no names so well known in the mercantile world of Red Bank, New Jersey, as those of Patterson & Spinning, these two men, B. W. Spinning and Arthur A. Patterson, brothers-in- law, opening a store in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1872. Mr. Spinning only retired from the firm at the end of his life, but Mr. Patterson continued in the business until 1913, when he retired to the en- joyment of a well-earned competence. His retire- ment from the business, which for forty-one years had demanded his best endeavor, released him for civic duty, and his townsmen availed themselves of his public spirit and progressive mind, and for three terms elected him to the mayoralty, his last term to expire in the year 1922. Mr. Patterson's life in Red Bank has been one of great usefulness in busi- ness, church, fraternity and municipality, and wide- ly as he is known, his splendid reputation as busi- ness man, citizen and neighbor keeps pace. Such men are a credit to any community, and Red Bank takes an honest pride in this one of the foremost of her sons, though he be an adopted one.
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