USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 21
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DR. JOHN CONOVER CLAYTON is a promi- nent member of the medical profession of New Jer- sey. He has many friends in the United States Navy, having been in the service for a term of years shortly after his graduation, and again during the World War.
He was born at Princeton, New Jersey, Febru- ary 25, 1882, and is the son of John M. Clayton and Clara (Hutchinson) Clayton. As his name would indicate, he is of English ancestry. His father is a well-known druggist of Princeton. Dr. Clayton has one brother and one sister.
Dr. Clayton received his early education in the public schools of New Jersey. Subsequently, he became a pupil of the Lawrenceville Private School. From Lawrenceville, he proceeded to Princeton University. After spending two years at Prince- ton, he entered the Medical School of the University of Pennsylvania, and graduated from that institu- tion with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, in the year 1907. He then served for nine months as in- terne, at St. Christopher's Hospital in Philadelphia. In September, 1907, however, he left St. Christo- pher's Hospital, and enlisted in the United States Navy, receiving his commission as a junior grade lieutenant. He was assigned to the United States Medical School and Hospital, at Washington as assistant surgeon. In February, 1908, he passed the medical examinations of the New York State Board, and in May, 1907, he resigned his commission in the United States Navy, and accepted an interneship at the Manhattan State Hospital in New York City. At length, in October, 1909, Dr. Clayton decided to establish himself as a general practitioner, and opened an office at Freehold, New Jersey, where he now lives.
On April 3, 1917, Dr. Clayton enlisted once more in the United States Navy, resuming his old rank as a junior grade lieutenant. With the exception of a brief stay in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, he spent the entire period of America's participation in the World War in the recruiting service in New Jersey. On August 11, 1919, he received his discharge, as a senior grade lieutenant.
Dr. Clayton is an active member and a vestryman of St. Peter's Episcopal Church. In politics, he is a Democrat. He is an active member of the Ameri- can Medical Association; the New Jersey State Medical Association; and the Monmouth County Medical Society. He also belongs to the Phi Beta Pi; the Knights of Pythias; the Red Men; and the Sons of St. George. He is a Mason of the third degree, and having been an officer of the United States Navy during the World War, he is now a member of the American Legion, Post 54. Dr. Clayton served for some time as jail physician; and he is now the first borough physician of Freehold Borough.
He married Isabelle L. Atkinson, of Hawley, Pennsylvania, October 27, 1909. Dr. and Mrs. Clayton have had three children, of whom Reberta L., born November 26, 1910, and Barbara L., born February 3, 1920, are living. Their son, John C.
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Clayton, Jr., who was born, October 25, 1911, died and the serivce that The Press now receives is the on his seventh birthday. exact duplicate of those papers.
J. LYLE KINMONTH, owner and editor of the Asbury Park "Evening Press" and the Asbury Park "Sunday Press" is a true type of the progressive well-balanced twentieth century business man. Mr. Kinmonth is identified with many of the leading busi- ness interests of the city and is, in fact, intimately associated with all her essential interests as a muni- cipality. J. Lyle Kinmonth was born near Colum- bus City, Iowa, November 20, 1870, the son of John Taylor and Henrietta (Atherton) Kinmonth, the latter having passed away August 80, 1914, at the age of sixty-nine years; her birth having occurred near Lafayette, Illinois, June 23, 1845. John Taylor Kinmonth was born near Kortright, Delaware county, New York, May 28, 1839. At the age of twenty years he went to Illinois, where he engaged in the raising of pedigreed stock. Ten years later he removed to Columbus City, Iowa, where he again established himself in this particular line and continued until 1918. To Mr. and Mrs. Kinmonth were born two children: Elizabeth, wife of B. F. Shaum, of Columbus Junction, Iowa; and J. Lyle, of further mention.
The early education of J. Lyle Kinmonth was secured in the schools of his native place and after graduating from the Iowa City (Iowa) Academy in 1891 he matriculated at the University of Iowa, securing from that institution the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy in 1895, and subsequently took a post- graduate course at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. After completing his studies in Octo- ber, 1895, he came to Asbury Park where he became identified with the Asbury Park "Press." With a thorough academic training already secured he quickly familiarized himself with every department of the newspaper establishment and two years later, in March, 1897, having in the meantime purchased the business, and a two-story brick building at 603- 607 Mattison avenue, which remained the head- quarters of the Asbury Park "Evening Press" until the building was destroyed by fire on January 17, 1916. Mr. Kinmonth then built the present five- story brick and concrete building and ably conducts the concern, maintaining it on a firm basis, enlarg- ing its facilities and extending its scope. This latter remark is thoroughly substantiated by an account which was printed in the Asbury Park "Sunday Press," May 1, 1921, and reads as follows:
That the readers of the Asbury Park Evening Press and Sunday Press may have all of the news while it is news and in order to provide more news, both domestic and foreign, The Press has caused to be installed one of the most wonderful of modern inventions. This machine is known as the "Mork- rum Printer" and is a device whereby press matter is sent over a wire through the Western Union direct from the offices of the Associated Press in New York City and is received in the office of The Press in printed form. The printer is the same as those in use by all of the metropolitan newspapers
The printer works all day, from seven o'clock in the morning until evening, with a break of a few minutes for lunch. The quantity of news that comes in over this service is enormous as the machine prints an average of sixty-five words a minute. The printer is in duplicate with automatic recording typewriters which can be alternated. A breakdown of one does not affect the other and the chances of the service being interrupted are very small.
The current for the actual operation of the printers is furnished by a motor generator installed in The Press office. This is necessary owing to the fact that the electrical impulses as received here are too minute to operate a machine requiring such a large amount of current. This heavy, direct cur- rent, as furnished by a motor-generator, is con- trolled by five line relays. These are double relays and are extremely sensitive and delicate. It is esti- mated that it requires a month to make one of them, as they have to be made to special require- ments.
The action of the machine depends wholly on absolute synchronization with the transmitting machine in the New York office of the Associated Press. This means that the speed of the motors which run the printers must be adjusted with the greatest accuracy. This could not be done with sufficient exactness if an ordinary speed counter were used, so a special device had to be perfected. It consists of a tuning fork of a certain vibration period, to the prongs of which are fastened two small metal plates each with a tiny slit in it. When the fork is at rest the slits are in exact line with each other, but when the fork is set in motion the slits cross and re-cross each other at each vibration of the fork. On the motor there is a wheel about four inches in diameter. The circumference of this wheel is divided into a number of equal size black and white spaces. When the speed is just right an observation of the rotating wheel through the slits in the small metal plates (when the fork is vibrat- ing) will show the spaces as if they were standing still. If the speed is not just right the spaces will appear to be revolving.
The machine represents a large expenditure by The Press but it is believed that the added service will more than compensate for the outlay. A new linotype has also been added to handle the work which will result from the increased Associated Press news. This machine makes a total of seven linotypes in the mechanical department.
With the business interests of the city Mr. Kin- month is widely connected. He is a director of the Asbury Park Trust Company; and a director of the Asbury Park Hotel and Realty Company; and in all matters affecting this community Mr. Kinmonth has ever manifested a deep and sincere interest, aiding always to the utmost of his power any movement which tends to further public progress and good government. In politics he is an Independent Dem- ocrat, but office-seeking is foreign to his nature, and he prefers, moreover, to concentrate his ener- gies on the faithful discharge of his various trusts and responsibilities. He was the first president of the Rotary Club of which he was one of the found-
Reb. William 26. Osborn
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ers; and Governor of the Third District (New York and New Jersey) of Rotary, 1921-22; ex-president and secretary of the Chamber of Commerce of As- bury Park; and is a member of the Associated Press, the American Newpaper Publishers' Associa- tion, and the New Jersey Press Association. He is affiliated with Asbury Park Lodge, No. 142, Free and Accepted Masons; is president of the Asbury Park Golf and Country Club and holds membership in the Deal Golf Club.
At Iowa City, Iowa, May 25, 1898, J. Lyle Kin- month was united in marriage with Luella Swisher, daughter of Benjamin Franklin and Virginia (An- derson) Swisher, the latter having passed away March 6, 1921, at the age of sixty-eight years.
Identified as he is with the vital business in- terests of Asbury Park, Mr. Kinmonth has the per- sonality which naturally belongs to a man capable of attaining and holding the position which he has occupied for these several years.
PETER CHARLES BROWN, engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Spring Lake, New Jersey, is recognized as a man of superior business capacity and resourceful ability, his reso- lute purpose and keen discrimination enabling him to carry forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. He has made a name for himself in business, political, and social circles of the commun- ity, and is regarded as a leader in Spring Lake affairs.
Peter Brown, father of Peter Charles Brown, was born in Edinborough, Scotland, and came to this country when he was nineteen years of age. Upon landing in the United States he went directly to Howell township, New Jersey, where he estab- lished himself in the tailoring trade and thus con- tinued until March 30, 1864, when he enlisted as a volunteer in the Union army. He was attached to the Fourteenth New Jersey Infantry, and at the second battle of Cold Harbor, his first engagement, was taken prisoner and confined in Libby Prison, where he died from wounds, July 31, 1864. He mar- ried Sarah Magill, of Howell township, who died in 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Brown were born the fol- lowing children: John B., who served during the Civil War with the Second New Jersey United States Cavalry; Joseph, who served with the Fourteenth New Jersey Infantry for two years and ten months, and was wounded three times; Jennie, deceased; Mary, deceased; Henrietta, deceased; William, de- ceased; Priscilla, deceased; Oliver H., mentioned elsewhere in this work; Sarah; Lida; Emma; and Peter Charles, of further mention.
Peter Charles Brown was born in Adelphia, Howell township, New Jersey, August 8, 1864. Af- ter completing his education in the public schools in Bordentown, he secured employment with the firm of Downes & Finch, shirt manufacturers, first in the cutting department and later in the shipping department. Four years later he resigned from this position and was with the Adams Express Company, of Bordentown, for one year. At the
age of eighteen years he came to Spring Lake, and with his brother, Oliver H. Brown, erected the building on Third and Jersey avenues in 1882. Peter C. Brown remained with his brother until 1907, when he bought out the interests of W. C. Bate- man, who for many years had been successfully engaged in the real estate and insurance business in Spring Lake. This venture has proven success- ful and Mr. Brown, who has his business head- quarters at No. 1311 Third avenue, deals in all kinds of insurance and also is a large real estate agent. He is also a director in the Farmingdale Building and Loan Association.
A Republican in politics, he has always taken a keen and active interest in the affairs of the or- ganization. In 1906 he was elected postmaster of Spring Lake, when it was but a third-class office, and he served in this capacity until 1915, and when he resigned it had grown to a second-class office. Mr. Brown was assessor of the borough for seven years, only resigning to fill the office of postmaster. He is affiliated with Wall Lodge, No. 72, Free and Accepted Masons; Goodwin Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Corson Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar; and Salaam Temple, of Newark, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; and also holds membership in the Knights of the Golden Eagle, Wall Lodge, No. 57, having been the instigator of this lodge and served in all the chairs. He was also one of the two founders of the Goodwill Fire Company, of Spring Lake. In religion Mr. Brown is a Method- ist, and for many years has been trustee of St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church.
At Bordentown, New Jersey, October 20, 1886, Peter Charles Brown was united in marriage with Ella M. Johnson, daughter of the late Charles W. and Elizabeth (Bowers) Johnson, the former for many years a carpenter and builder, and located first in Bordentown, later in Belmar, and still later in Spring Lake, where he died June 9, 1921, at the age of eighty-four years. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are the parents of five children: Effie, born December 16, 1887, married William P. Divine, and resides in New York City; Oliver H. 2nd., born June 5, 1891, married Elsie V. Howland, of Spring Lake; Peter Stanley, born March 10, 1896, married Dorothy M. Whyte, of Asbury Park; Mildred A., born March 15,1897, married Francis I. Jones, Jr., of Ocean Grove, New Jersey; Dorothy L., born April 16, 1898. The family home is at No. 404 Ludlow avenue.
REV. WILLIAM BROMWELL OSBORN- Rev. William B. Osborn's genealogy is traced back eight generations to the Osborns who came over from England and settled in Connecticut. The Os- born coat-of-arms is in possession of his family.
Rev. Elbert Osborn, father of Rev. William B. Osborn, married Sarah Wright, and they had two sons and two daughters, namely: Levi, William Bromwell, Mary P. and Sarah S. K. The eldest died, leaving William B. the only son. His father was noted for his success in winning souls to Christ.
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In the Methodist itineracy he was stationed in Hills- dale, New York, in 1832, where William Bromwell was born March 22.
His school days were spent in the different places where his father was stationed. His con- version occurred under the preaching of Rev. Wil- liam P. Corbit at Hackettstown, New Jersey, where he had gone to learn a trade. Having seen the financial sacrifices his parents had made, he had fully determined never to be a Methodist preacher, but to go into business, make money, and thus make his parents comfortable in their old age. A few years later he was greatly blessed spiritually at a camp meeting in New Jersey. This fact mainly induced him to devote his life to promoting them. Soon the call from God to the ministry. came. He was then in the wholesale marble business in Phila- delphia, and doing well. A great moral battle en- sued, which resulted in his decision to enter the ministry. He was received in the New Jersey Con- ference at the age of twenty-five years in 1857, and soon stationed at Imlaystown.
On June 1, 1859, he was married to Sylvia Williams, of Winsted, Connecticut. Intellectually and spiritually she was a rare woman and efficiently aided him in his home life and gospel ministry. They had one child named after his grandfather, Elbert. He made an excellent record in Penning- ton Seminary, where he was graduated, but in the twenty-fourth year of his age he was drowned in endeavoring to escape from a wrecked steamer on its way from New York to Bridgeport, Connecticut. His mother had previously passed to her Heavenly home, but it was a severe blow to his fond father and family.
Mr. Osborn's appointments for some years in the Methodist ministry were as follows: Imlays- town, South Amboy, Columbus, Cape May, Atlantic Circuit and Sharpstown. Having been taught, through precept and example, by his father, that "the Divine program in salvation was that every disciple of Christ should wait on Him-as He dir- ected His first ones to do-till He filled them with His Spirit thus enduing them with power from on high," he continued for some time to seek definitely to be filled with the Spirit. God fulfilled His prom- ise to him, and from that time He inspired and marvellously used him. In his zeal that many might know the blessedness of such an experience he hastened to New York and said to Rev. John S. Inskip "I feel that God would have us hold a holi- ness camp-meeting." After prayer together they said that there would be at the contemplated camp- meeting at least two tents. Others joined them, and the first National camp-meeting for the pro- motion of holiness was held in Vineland, July 17-26, 1867. At that camp-meeting Mr. Osborn and the pastor said "Let us select a camp-meeting ground by the seaside, and then the desired rest and the great salvation can be secured at the same time." Having been appointed agent for Vineland Semin- ary, Mr. Osborn travelled through the State and also talked up the summer seaside resort. The
whole New Jersey coast from Sandy Hook to Cape May was carefully explored. He looked especially for three things-the highest ground and beach, the best grove, and the place most free from mos- quitoes. He finally selected what is now called Ocean Grove. It had no name before, and he said the name Ocean Grove was given to him in prayer and it was adopted. (The late mosquito map of New Jersey confirms his judgment in that line). Meantime he had been appointed to Farmingdale and he held there a camp-meeting, and aroused the interest of the entire county concerning the new project.
The present Ocean Grove was first visited by him and Rev. George Neal, of Long Branch, in February, 1868, a deep snow being on the ground. Nevertheless, Mr. Osborn knelt on what is now Founder's Park and prayed if this land was the Divine choice God would bless the enterprise. He brought others to view the ground. At the time of the selection of the land there were only four resi- dents in what is now known as Ocean Grove, and not one in Asbury Park. Only a sand road wide enough for a single wagon penetrated the forest. The sand dunes were as high as many of the board- ing houses are now. All was rough and looked des- olate. Mr. Osborn's enthusiasm-because God- inspired-failed not, and he suggested going to see a farmer to purchase some of the land. The reply was, "Osborn it is of no use for he has declared he will not sell a foot of it to any mortal." But Mr. Osborn characteristically answered "If God Al- mighty wants that land, He can either kill the old man or make him willing to sell it." Accordingly he interviewed the owner, telling him for what pur- pose he wanted it, and that if he knew what was good for himself he would sell him the land before he left the house-and this he did. This occurred before a few families-about twenty persons in all-met on what is now called Founder's Park. Tents were erected, and the first meeting for wor- ship was held July 31, 1869. Dr. Stokes, presiding elder of the New Brunswick District was in charge. He prayed earnestly that they might have a "single eye" to God's glory. He said he felt like quoting the first verse in the Bible, stopping in the middle of it-"In the beginning, God-" and added "Lo, God is here; here in the beginning and he trusted he would be in the continuance-and to the end." The white flag with "In the Beginning, God" in- scribed on it, now floating by the beach on Sunday mornings during the season, brings this incident to remembrance. Some days after this meeting, at Mr. Osborn's suggestion, they held a kind of camp- meeting where the cottage of Mrs. Stephen Randall on Lake avenue now stands. The first congrega- tion numbered about thirty or forty persons. How humble was this beginning of the great services now held in the present auditorium, the largest building of its kind in the world, holding ten thous- and people.
The deed for the eleven acres, directly along the surf, bought of Britton White for fifty dollars,
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having been obtained, Mr. Osborn, in company with Charles Rogers, went to see his new possession. A few more acres lying along what is now Wesley Lake, sufficient to give a passage to the sea, were bought. But in all this purchase of land there was no speculation, no scheme for making money, but the sole aim was religious. Mr. Osborn, having seen stock companies in camp-meetings ruin many of them, determined that this one about to be form- ed should not be organized for gain, or ever have any stock, or give a dividend to any person. And it never has up to the present time.
Mr. Osborn had great difficulty in persuading ministers and others to take hold of the enterprise and become members of the association, but success finally crowned his efforts. In the winter of 1869, in Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, Trenton, New Jersey, an association, consisting of thirteen ministers and thirteen laymen, was organized, of which Rev. E. H. Stokes, D. D. was elected presi- dent. A few months later a charter was obtained from the New Jersey Legislature under the title of "The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the purpose of providing and maintaining for the friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church a proper, convenient and desirable permanent Camp-Meeting ground and Christian seaside resort." The following facts have been gathered from the first report by Rev. E. H. Stokes, D. D., president of the Ocean Grove Asso- ciation. The superintendence of the work upon the grounds demanding it should be the business of some one person, the association at first considered appointing Mr. Osborn and assuming the responsi- bility of his support, but later it was decided that it would be better for the financial relief of the association and the comfort of his family to seek his appointment to Ocean Grove in connection with an adjacent charge. Accordingly the appointment stands in the printed minutes of the New Jersey Conference thus: "Greenville and Ocean Grove, W. B. Osborn, with the understanding that he is to fill the Greenville pulpit on the Sabbath throughout the year, but his time during the week, especially during the first six months, would be devoted largely to Ocean Grove." Greenville is now Hamilton.
When we read in the report of that year that a surveyed map of the two hundred and thirty acres then owned by the association had been made, with an abstract of titles, forty thousand trees trimmed, the whole land gone over with brush hook, cleared and cleaned, thousands of trees cut down in what is now Main avenue, thousands of loads of sand removed, Ocean Pathway's sidewalks graded, and highway in its center graveled (the whole of the avenue and paths amounting to over five miles), a preacher's stand erected (a beautiful structure capable of seating seventy-five or more ministers), and planed lumber sufficient for seating ten thous- and people provided, and that this lumber had to be carried on an average of ten miles at a busy season, we must see a vast amount of hard work was done under the superintendence of Mr. Osborn.
In this report Dr. Stokes suggested, that as a testimonial of their appreciation of the manner in which he had performed the work assigned him, that the association should erect a suitable cottage for his residence and present it to him. This sug- gestion met with the approval of the association, but their funds were too low to allow of its practi- cal adoption. On May 31, 1870, the members of the association chose their own lots, and on June 1, 1870, one hundred lots for fifty dollars each were offered for sale. The premiums amounted to $1,500. The first choice brought eighty-six dollars paid by James A. Bradley, who became the founder of As- bury Park. 370 lots were sold and some brought higher prices. When Mr. Osborn asked Rev. Joel Croft, of the New York Conference, to buy a lot, he asked him, "What have you there?" Mr. Osborn replied, "Sand and the Ocean," and added, "but in twenty years there will be a continuous city from Ocean Grove to Cape May. It became true. From the few acres purchased in 1869, in 1872 the grounds had increased to two hundred and thirty acres, and over three hundred cottages had been built and a number of buildings had been erected by the Association. Mr. Osborn had great difficulty in obtaining the consent of the Association to de- vote so much land to Ocean Pathway-fifteen hun- dred feet long, and two hundred feet at the Grove, and widening to three hundred feet at the sea. Now Ocean Pathway is the crowning glory of Ocean Grove, and furnishes an unobstructed outlet from the auditorium to the ocean front.
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