USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 32
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Augustus Sickles, only child of Benjamin D. and Maria (Hulsart) Sickles, was born at the home farm in Atlantic township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, June 20, 1847, and there yet resides, a sub- stantial farmer and an esteemed citizen. He was educated in the district school, finishing with courses at Freehold Institute, which was then under the management of Professor Baldwin. He had been his father's helper during his school years, and after finishing his studies at Freehold, returned to the farm and has never surrendered its ownership or management. At the death of Benjamin D. Sickles, in 1883, Augustus Sickles became its man- ager, and later, on the death of his mother, he became its sole owner. The farm of 1921 bears little resemblance in its appearance to even the farm of his boyhood, for Mr. Sickles has constantly improved it and rendered it more attractive and fertile.
In politics, Mr. Sickles is strictly independent in thought and action. He has served on the town- ship committee, on the school committee, and as school trustee. His religious affiliation is with the Reformed Dutch church of Colts Neck.
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Mr. Sickles married in Atlantic township, June 4,
1879, Charlotte Augusta Soffel, daughter of Louis and Margaret Soffel, her father born in Meisenheim, Germany, and later was a farmer of Monmouth county. Mr. and Mrs. Sickles are the parents of three children, all born at the homestead in Atlan- tic township, Monmouth county: Margaret Maria, born March 3, 1880; Benjamin Augustus, born October 8, 1881; and Huldah, born July 6, 1883.
PHINEAS PROCTOR-Among the leading busi- ness men of Asbury Park, New Jersey, is Phineas Proctor, secretary and treasurer of the Proctor- Jones Electrical Company which is located at No. 632-634 Mattison avenue. Since 1889 he has been a resident of this city, and during these many years has identified himself with the vital interests of the community.
John Proctor, father of Phineas Proctor, was born in Staffordshire, England, and early in life served an apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. He married Mary Lingard and they together with their son Phineas, mentioned below, came to this country, settling in Trenton, New Jersey, where since that time John Proctor has been engaged in his trade as carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. John Proctor are the parents of the following children: Phineas, of further mention; Anna, wife of Alfred Blake, of Trenton; Mary Elizabeth, wife of James Winder, of Trenton; Ernest Daniel, a carpenter and builder at Trenton; Margaret, wife of George Saily, of Tren- ton; Ethel May; Alice May, wife of James Shaw, of Trenton; John Lingard; and Gertrude, wife of J. Bert Foley, of Trenton.
Phineas Proctor, eldest son of John and Mary (Lingard) Proctor, was born in Staffordshire, Eng- land, May 27, 1875. When but a child he was brought by his parents to Trenton, New Jersey, and it was here that the lad attended school. Early in life he became interested in electrical work and when his school years were over he learned that trade with Toman Brothers, of Trenton. In 1899, at the age of twenty-four years, he located in As- bury Park, New Jersey, and there entered the em- ploy of the Hope Electrical Company remaining with this organization for seven years. In 1906 he formed a partnership with George Conover Jones under the firm name of The Proctor-Jones Electri- cal Company, which is mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mr. Proctor as secretary and treasurer of the company, has done much towards furthering its advancement and much of its success can be credited to his able work.
Mr. Proctor is a member of the Kiwanis Club of Asbury Park and the Chamber of Commerce. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Asbury Park Lodge, No. 142, Free and Accepted Masons; Standard Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Corson Commandery, Knights Templar; and Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. In his religious affiliations he is an Epis- copalian.
On June 16, 1902, at St. Clair, Pennsylvania, Phineas Proctor was united in marriage with Emily
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Jones, daughter of Joseph and Anna Jones. Mr. and Mrs. Proctor are the parents of a son, Haydn Jones, born in Asbury Park, June 16, 1903. The family home is at No. 29 New York avenue, Ocean Grove, New Jersey.
GEORGE CONOVER JONES - The Proctor- Jones Electrical Company has a reputation so well and widely established as to make the name of its present president familiar not only to his fellow citizens of Asbury Park, but also to a large num- ber within a radius of many miles. Mr. Jones is a veteran of the Spanish-American War and has been long and thoroughly identified with the leading in- terests of his home town.
George Conover Jones was born September 10, 1879 at Good Luck, Ocean county, New Jersey, and is a son of Augustus Teed and Anne Marie (Yar- nall) Jones. The former who was a merchant of Asbury Park, died in 1921 at the age of sixty-three. George Conover Jones was but two years old when the family moved to Bradley Beach and it was in the schools of that town that he received his edu- cation, completing his course of study at the Nep- tune Township High School. During his early youth he was always industrious, selling the "Penny News," the first newspaper of Asbury Park, and wild flowers in their season, on the streets of this city, found ready purchasers through his hands. During his vacation he was ever busy, either clam- ming or at some other work which brought re- muneration.
When his school days were over Mr. Jones was employed for a time by his father, and helped to grade the streets in Bradley Beach at which he was busy when the war broke out. In 1898, at the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, he en- listed in Company A, Third New Jersey Troops, but never left the United States, returning in 1899, to Asbury Park where he secured employment with the Hope Electrical Company. He remained with this company until 1906 when he formed a part- nership with Phineas Proctor, whose sketch precedes this, and together they organized the Proctor-Jones Electric Company, a sketch of which follows this.
Mr. Jones has been a director of the First Na- tional Bank of Bradley Beach since 1915; he be- longs to the Asbury Park Chamber of Commerce; is enrolled in the United Commercial Travellers; a member of the Independent Fire Company of Brad- ley Beach; and affiliates with the Exempt Firemen's Association; the Spanish-American War Veterans, Camp Hartshorn of Asbury Park; Benevolent Pro- tective Order Elks, No. 128, Asbury Park; and for ten years was a sergeant of Company H, Asbury Park, New Jersey State National Guard. In poli- tics he is a Republican.
On Easter Sunday in 1907, George Conover Jones was united in marriage with Mae Klink, daughter of Stogdon and Rebecca (Van Hise) Klink, both residents of Bradley Beach.
George Conover Jones takes an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his
adopted city, is public-spirited and enterprising, con- genial in his tastes, and has manifested those ster- ling qualities that ever command respect and at an times are worthy of emulation. He has always taken an active interest in athletics; was quarter- back on the Junior Athletic Club team of Asbury Park, and won the championship of New Jersey, now a professional at Madison Square Garden, New York City. His chief recreations now are golf and fishing.
THE PROCTOR-JONES ELECTRICAL COM- PANY was established January 1, 1906, at No. 631 Mattison avenue, Asbury Park, New Jersey, where it had a floor space of ten by thirty-five feet. As business grew the organization was obliged to seek larger quarters, and in 1913 they purchased and moved to their present location, No. 632-634 Mat- tison avenue, where the housing accommodations are much larger, comprising three stories above the basement with a frontage of thirty-three feet and a depth of fifty. The first two floors are devoted exclusively to show-rooms and offices. In 1914 the company opened a branch office in Freehold, New Jersey, which it continued to conduct for four years when it sold out. The Proctor-Jones Electrical Company prospered from its inception and a cor- poration was formed in December, 1911, with George Conover Jones as president, Alfred Jones as vice-president, and Phineas Proctor secretary and treasurer. Among some of the hotels, buildings and private residences which the company has equipped electrically, are as follows: The New Mon- terey Hotel of Asbury Park; North End Hotel, Ocean Grove; Allenwood State Hospital, Allen- wood; Steinbach Department Store, Asbury Park; Seacoast Trust building; Asbury Park Trust build- ing; Merchants' National Bank building, Asbury Park; First National Bank, Bradley Beach; Hotel La Reine, Bradley Beach; Hollywood Golf Club; and the residences of W. A. Saks, Deal; George B. Hurd, Elberon; Solomon Guggenheimer, Elberon; Gustave Barnett, Asbury Park, and "The White House," Martin Maloney's residence at Spring Lake.
Together with this particular line of work the company installed storage batteries in their stock in 1914, but this line grew so extensively that they were forced to have special headquarters for this branch of the business, and opened a place at No. 69 South Main street, remaining here until 1917, when they again removed their storage battery business to No. 219 Cookman avenue, where they established at the same time the Ocean Garage, which has proven a great source of revenue to the company.
GEORGE HENRY COMBS-For many years prominent in the community advance, George Henry Combs, of Wall township, held the warmest re- spect and esteem of every one who knew him, and his death, on April 12, 1921, although he had reached a goodly age, was a shock to his many friends, and brought sadness to the entire section where he was so well known. Mr. Combs was a son of George Washington and Esther (Brand) Combs, residents of this township in a day gone by.
Geo. b. Jones
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John 4 Geordies
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BIOGRAPHICAL
Mr. Combs was born in the section known as Bailey's Corners, on September 17, 1848, and was educated in the public schools near his home. Until the age of twenty-one years he was associated with his father in the conduct of the homestead farm, then he purchased the "Squire Bloomfield place," on which he resided until his death, carrying on extensive farming operations there, and winning his way to prosperity and a position of dignity and influence in the town. This farm, located in the section known as Bailey's Corners, is a fine, large place. Through his activity on the farm Mr. Combs kept in touch with the business life of the county until nearly the time of his death. He was also deeply interested in the public progress, and supporting the Republican party, served at one time for a period of three years as overseer of county roads. He was a member of the Wall Methodist Church for many years.
Mr. Combs married (first) at Bailey's Corners, Hannah Newman, who died, leaving one son, Syd- ney. He married (second) on January 6, 1880, Ad- die Harris, of Bailey's Corners, daughter of James Hubbard and Mary (Petit) Harris, and they have one daughter, Florence, who was born in Bailey's Corners, February 5, 1895, married Charles Hultz, of Ocean township, and has one child, Dorothy.
HENRY KIEFFER KROH-One of the promi- nent business men of Brielle, New Jersey, is Mr. Kroh, whose position as a leading real estate man of the community places him much in the public eye. Mr. Kroh is a son of Harry Jeremiah and Florence Catherine (Horner) Kroh. The father was by trade a wheelwright, and a man of high prin- ciples and public spirit, whose early death was a loss to his town and state. He served during the Civil War in the employ of the United States Gov- ernment on the Arlington Flats, Virginia, and there contracted typhoid fever, from which he died.
Henry Kieffer Kroh, only child of the above union, was born in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, September 22, 1860. His education was begun in the public schools of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and continued at the Classical College of the same place. Then entering the Philadelphia College of Pharm- acy, Mr. Kroh was graduated from that institution in the class of 1886. Active in the drug business in Philadelphia for several years, he then came to Spring Lake, New Jersey, and entered the drug business with the Hills Drug Company. He has been connected with the drug business for about thirty-five years, and has won success in this vicin- ity while taking care of the needs of the people. In 1914, Mr. Kroh was appointed postmaster of Brielle, and still holds this office. In connection with his other activities Mr. Kroh is largely inter- ested in real estate in this section, and carries on a thriving business in this field of endeavor, holding a position among the leading real estate operators on the Jersey coast.
In political affairs, Mr. Kroh is a noteworthy local figure, although he has never taken any inter-
est in political honors and has never held office. He supports the principles and policies of the Re- publican party. His religious convictions place his membership with the Presbyterian church, where his daughter is superintendent of the Junior Depart- ment of the Sunday school.
On May 19, 1887, Mr. Kroh married, in Gettys- burg, Pennsylvana, Lucinda Horner, of Frederick county, Maryland, daughter of Elija and Sophia Horner. Mr. and Mrs. Kroh are the parents of three children: Herbert, widely known in the news- paper world, president of the Pennsylvania State Editor's Association, and now connected with the New York City News Association; Harry Horner, who established an advertising business in Asbury Park, which has attained national significance and is understood to be one of the largest in the coun- try; and a daughter, Annette Love, a business woman of Brielle, and active in church and Sunday school work.
JOHN MINTON CORLIES-Mayor of Rumson, having now completed twelve years as the incum- bent of that responsible office, Mr. Corlies is a member of Shrewsbury Township Committee, has been for nineteen years connected with the Board of Education, director of the Board of Freeholders of Monmouth county for five years, and is one of the best known farmers in Monmouth county.
(I) Britton Corlies, the first of the family on record, was born November 27, 1788, in Eatontown, New Jersey. He married Sarah Wooley, daughter of Benjamin Wooley. Their children were: Anna, Elizabeth, Britton, Deborah, Britton (2), Joseph, and Benjamin, mentioned below. Britton Corlies, the father, died October 31, 1816.
(II) Benjamin Corlies, son of Britton and Sarah (Wooley) Corlies, was born February 9, 1797, in Monmouth county, New Jersey. He married Miriam Williams, daughter of Tyler and Elizabeth Wil- liams. The following children were born to them: Henry, mentioned below; Edward, Francis, Sarah, and Susan. The death of Mr. Corlies occurred May 24, 1884.
(III) Henry Corlies, son of Benjamin and Miriam (Williams) Corlies, was born October 20, 1821, in Eatontown, New Jersey, and removed to Middlesex county, same state. He married (first) Ellen Van Derveer, of Poplar. He married (sec- ond) Mary Hendrickson, daughter of Captain Hen- drick Hendrickson, and they became the parents of three sons: William, Benjamin, mentioned be- low; and Charles Julius.
(IV) Benjamin (2) Corlies, son of Henry and Mary (Hendrickson) Corlies, was born in Farming- dale, Monmouth county, New Jersey and later went to Rumson, New Jersey, to take charge of the Palmer estate. He married Cecelia
(V) John Minton Corlies, only son of Benjamin (2) and Cecelia - Corlies, was born in Middle- town township, October 80, 1868. He received his primary education in the local schools of Middle- town township, completing his course of study in
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Rumson, whither the family moved when he was about nine years old. During this time he assisted his father in the care of the Palmer estate, and reaching manhood established a trucking and livery business which he has maintained successfully for nearly thirty years and which he still conducts. In politics, Mayor Corlies is a faithful Democrat. His interest in community affairs has always been ac- tive, and his fellow-citizens have testified to their confidence in him by electing him to the highest municipal office in their gift and still more by re- taining him in it for the long period of twelve years. Their appreciation of his efforts in the cause of education has been similarly manifested. He be- longs to the Improved Order of Red Men, Lodge No. 48, of Rumson.
Mayor Corlies married, in January, 1892, in Rum- son, Lillie Fenton, born in Farmingdale, daughter of Charles and Mary Fenton.
The length of time during which Mayor Corlies has been retained in his present office furnishes the most conclusive evidence of his fidelity in the dis- charge of the duties which it involves, and in view of this fact it is sincerely to be hoped that they will continue to insist on his serving them in the mayoralty for many years yet to come. He is the type of man that builds up communities.
JOHN HURLEY STOUT-The life of John Hur- ley Stout, which covered a period of nearly eighty years, was passed on the Stout homestead farm in now Neptune township, Monmouth county, New Jer- sey, the house in which he was born, lived, and died having been built by his grandfather, Elhanan W. Stout, who was the third Stout owner of the farm, five generations having owned and tilled its acres.
The founder of the family in this country was Richard Stout, born in Nottinghamshire, England, about 1648, who came at a date unknown, and mar- ried Penelope Van Princes, at New Amsterdam, New York. Their eldest son John, married and had a son Richard, who settled at Squan Village, in Mon- mouth county, and was known as "Squan" Dick. The site of his farm is now the village of Manas- quan, and from "Squan" Dick descended Elhanan W. Stout, grandfather of John Hurley Stout, to whose memory this review is dedicated. Elhanan W. Stout married Mary Hurley, and they were the parents of a large family, including Judge John Stout, who died while a judge of the Somerset county bench, an elder son who served in the Revo- lution, and Elhanan H. Stout, father of John Hur- ley Stout. Both Elhanan W. and Elhanan H. Stout were skilled blacksmiths and farmers. In addition to his trade and his farm, Elhanan H. Stout was extensively engaged in the fishing business. He married Mary Lippincott, of one of the oldest Mon- mouth county families. Elhanan H. and Mary (Lippincott) Stout were the parents of two sons and four daughters: one of their sons, John H., of further mention; another Captain Samuel Lippincott Stout, who at the outbreak of the Civil War, was mate
of the schooner "John T. Williams," the first ves- sel to receive a shot at the attack on Fort Sumter.
John Hurley Stout, son of Elhanan H. and Mary (Lippincott) Stout, was born at the homestead in now Neptune township, October 18, 1842, died there February 2, 1921. He attended the district school and from his youth was familiar with farm work. As he grew older he bore a large share of the burden of management and never left the home- stead, although he had reached an age when he was able to enlist, but before he entered the ser- vice Lee surrendered and the Civil War was over. He finally became the owner of a part of the farm and to his share he added until he had fifty-seven fertile acres under cultivation. He prospered abun- dantly, was one of the public-spirited men of his township after that part of the county was set off as Neptune. township, and contributed to make it one of the best in the county, Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, and several of the shore resorts lying within its borders. In politics he was independent, never holding or desiring public office. He attended the Methodist Episcopal church, and was a man thor- oughly respected by all who knew him. He was an untiring worker, and it was through the energy and intelligent labor which he devoted to the improve- ment of his farm, that he prospered.
John H. Stout married, October 20, 1886, Hannah A. Benard, born December 27, 1856, daughter of Frederick and Deborah (Brand) Benard, her father a farmer of Wall township, Monmouth county, and of French birth and parentage. Deborah Brand was of the Perrine family, one of the oldest families in Monmouth county and in New Jersey; the Per- rines, French-Huguenot in descent, early came to the colonies. Mrs. Stout's grandfather, Samuel Brand, was a soldier of the Revolution, and prior to her marriage she was one of the five Benard sisters engaged in teaching in Monmouth schools, Mrs. Stout having taught for twenty-four years. Samuel Brand was one of the charter members of Eaton- town Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, at Eaton- town, New Jersey, records showing him a member in 1802. Four children were born to John H. and Hannah A. (Benard) Stout: John Benard, born Feb- ruary 18, 1888; Fred Benard, born December 6, 1889; Joan Stout, born January 18, 1892; and Sam- uel Benard, born May 3, 1897. Mrs. Stout survives her husband and continues her residence at the old Stout homestead to which she came a bride.
JONATHAN HOLMES JONES - Among the prosperous, intelligent and up to-date farmers of Monmouth county, New Jersey, is Jonathan Holmes Jones, son of William and Catherine (Holmes) Jones, both families old ones in Monmouth county. Samuel Jones, the grandfather of Jonathan Holmes Jones, was a farmer of Atlantic township, the larger part of whose life was spent near Colts Neck, New Jersey. He married Lettie Anne Smock, and they became the parents of nine children: Jacob, William, of further mention; Daniel, George, Samuel, Webs- ter, Garrett, Eliza Ann, and Sarah Jane.
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BIOGRAPHICAL
William Jones, second son of Samuel and Lettie Anne (Smock) Jones, was for many years engaged in farming near Colts Neck, Atlantic township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, his farm being lo- cated on the back road in the vicinity of Holmdel. He married Catherine Holmes, daughter of Jonathan and Eleanor S. (Schenck) Holmes, and they be- came the parents of Jonathan Holmes Jones, of further mention. William Jones died in 1907, at the age of seventy years, and his wife, Catherine, died in 1916, at the age of seventy-six.
Jonathan Holmes Jones was born in Atlantic township, near Colts Neck, New Jersey, July 9, 1864. He attended the local district schools and then went to the private school kept by Professor Holmes, at Keyport, New Jersey, after which he took a course in the Stuart Hanlon Business College, at Trenton, New Jersey. After completing his business course, he farmed with his father for a while, and then opened a general store at Vanderburg, a village of Atlantic township, where, as merchant and post- master, he remained for seven years. At the end of that period he came back to the vicinity of Colts Neck, and after the death of his father, bought the homestead, where he has engaged in farming up to the present time (1921).
Politically, Mr. Jones is a Democrat, and has served his community as township clerk and treas- urer. He is a member of the Junior Order of Am- erican Mechanics of Holmdel, New Jersey, and has passed through all chairs. He is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Red Bank Lodge, No. 233.
Mr. Jones married, at Englishtown, New Jersey, Ava Mount, daughter of Robert Roy and Jane C. Mount. No children have been born to this mar- riage.
JAMES CHEATLE RICHDALE-One of the most successful fruit growers of Monmouth county is James C. Richdale. Mr. Richdale is of English ancestry. His grandfather, James Richdale, was born in Derbyshire, England. He married Sarah Ault, and they became the parents of two chil- dren, John and George Richdale.
John Richdale, son of James Richdale, and father of James C. Richdale, born in Derbyshire, England, was a mason and contractor, and built many churches in England. He was a member of the Masonic order in England, having taken the higher Masonic degrees there. He married Anna Cheatle, daughter of James and Anna (Patrick) Cheatle, and died in the United States in August, 1900, at the age of eighty-four years.
James Cheatle Richdale, son of John and Anna (Cheatle) Richdale, was born in Derbyshire, Eng- land, June 17, 1852. His early education was re- ceived in England, but when he was ten years old he came to the United States with his parents and finished his school days in New York City. When he was twenty years old he came to Atlantic town- ship and engaged in farming. In 1901 he bought the Oliver place, and for the last twenty years
he has been most successfully engaged in fruit growing. Mr. Richdale has developed scientific methods in fruit culture, and specializes in apples and peaches. His fruit has won numerous trophies and blue ribbons, and there are two seasons in the year when his orchards are a sight well worth going a long distance to see: first, when the big orchards are transformed into drifted masses of bloom, and again, just before the picking, when the ripened fruit, made a triumph of perfection by wise and diligent spraying and culture, hangs rich and beauti- ful in the October sunshine. Mr. Richdale has also acquired a reputation as an horticulturist. He was for two years president of the County Board of Agriculture, and is a member of the board of vis- itors of the State Agricultural College. With all nis busy life of agricultural experiment and achieve- ment, he has found time to serve his community. He has served as a member of the Board of Edu- cation; and as a member of the School Board, of which he was secretary forty years ago, and is at the present time president of the Atlantic Township School Board. Fraternally, he is affiliated with Harem Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of Red Bank, New Jersey; is a charter member of Field Council; has been for ten years master of Shrewsbury Grange; and for two years master of the County Grange. . Mr. Richdale and his family are members of the Church of England.
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