USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 41
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and their archaeological interest, many Roman re- mains having been unearthed there. Reddish Hall, in Reddish, a beautiful old timbered house, stood until about 1780. There was relationship by mar- riage in very early times between the families of Hulme and Reddish, and it is possible that the name of Reddish was once borne by the Hulme an- cestors.
Robert Hulme, of Reddish, was born early in the sixteenth century, and died in January, 1605, being buried on the fourteenth of that month at Stock- port, close by Reddish. In the record of his burial he was described as "Ould Robert Hulme of Red- ich." His wife, Alice, whose maiden surname is unknown, was buried in the present Manchester Cathedral, September 7, 1610, as "Alyce wydow of Robte Hulme of Reddiche."
Robert (2) Hulme, son of Robert (1) and Alice Hulme, inherited his father's lands. In his will, made August 20, 1640, and proved November 24, 1649, he bequeathed to his son Robert "the mes- suage in which I now dwell and which has been held-by my progenitors tyme out of mind." He was buried at Stockport, November 12, 1640. The wife of this Robert Hulme was named Katherine, and it is thought her maiden surname was Johnson. They were married at Stockport, October 8, 1605, and she was there buried September 8, 1630.
Rev. Obadiah Holmes, son of Robert (2) and Katherine Hulme or Holmes, was born probably at Reddish, in 1606 or 1607. He was baptized in Dids- bury Chapel, November 18, 1609-10. Didsbury lies close to Reddish, and it is quite probable that Obadiah attended there the ancient school before his matriculation at Brasenose College, Oxford. In a document still extant, Obadiah Holmes stated that his father provided three of his sons with an Oxford education, and the records of matriculation at Brasenose of two of these sons, John and Sam- uel, have been found, while he himself was so evidently a man of scholarship and learning, as well as of brilliant intellect, that it is generally as- sumed he was the third of Robert (2) Hulme's sons to attend the university.
On November 20, 1630, he married, in the present Manchester Cathedral, Katherine Hyde, and in 1638 he, with his wife and their son Jonathan, sailed from Preston, in Lancashire, for America. They landed at Boston, but soon settled in Salem. By 1646 he had removed to Rehoboth, Massachusetts, where he became involved in difficulties with the authorities through his independent views in ecclesiastical affairs, and in 1650 he became an avowed Baptist, and with several of his friends lefi Rehoboth and took up residence in Newport, Rhode Island. The following year Rev. Obadiah Holmes, with Dr. John Clarke and John Crandall, was arrested at Swampscott, near Lynn, where they had held a Baptist meeting in the home of William Witter, an aged and blind associate. They were lodged in Boston jail, and their trial resulted in a severe sentence of fines or whippings. The fines of Clarke and Crandall were paid by friends, but to Rev. Obadiah Holmes it appeared a matter
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of. principle to refuse payment to recognize the authority of civil power to discipline him for what, if an offense, was an offense against the spiritual power. Therefore, on September 5, 1651, he was taken forth to what is now the square about the old State House in Boston and given thirty lashes.
On his release he returned to Newport, and suc- ceeded Dr. Clarke in 1652 as minister of the Baptist church at Newport. Several times he was sent as deputy frofn Newport to the General Assembly. After an earlier preaching expedition on Long Is- land, in 1665, he was there with Lady Deborah Moody's colony at Gravesend. He became a paten- tee of the new settlement in Monmouth county, New Jersey, in 1665, but did not make himself a new home there, although his family did so. He returned to Newport, where he died, October 15, 1682. Rev. Obadiah Holmes had three sons.
Daniel Holmes, great-grandfather of Joseph Hen- drickson Holmes, became a sheriff of the county, where he was held in high esteem. Joseph Hen- drickson (1) Holmes, son of Daniel, married Anna Crawford. Their son, John S. Holmes, was born October 7, 1851, died May 18, 1911. He was edu- cated in the Holmdel schools and Fergusonville Academy, and spent his entire life in Holmdel. He married and became the father of: John; Joseph Hendrickson, of whom further; Caroline, who died in infancy; and Katherine, who married Samuel E. Perrine.
Joseph H. Holmes was born at Holmdel, New Jersey, June 19, 1884. Holmdel was originally nam- ed Baptisttown, but when an application for a post office was presented, it was found there was another town of this name. Dr. Henry G. Cooke's sister suggested the present name, derived from the Dutch language, del, in that tongue signifying val- ley.
He received his early education in the public schools of New Jersey, going thence to Colgate Academy where he pursued a course in liberal arts, later entering Peddie Institute for special work. At the end of his school days he returned home and became associated with his father in the man- agement of the home farm of 224 acres, devoted largely to the raising of potatoes and hay. This property, formerly known as the Marl Bottom stock- farm, was purchased by Mr. Holmes' grandfather from the Holmes heirs, who remodeled the residence and farm buildings on an extensive scale. Since that time the son and grandson have cultivated the home acres and have continued the program of im- provement instituted by the original Holmes owner.
Mr. Holmes is a director of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Matawan, New Jersey, and of the Monmouth County Farmers' Exchange of Free- hold. He is a trustee of the Baptist church of Holmdel, and is fraternally affiliated with the Ma- sonic order, and the Junior Order of United Ameri- can Mechanics. In the Masonic order he is a member of Caesarea Lodge, No. 64, Free and Ac- cepted Masons; Corson Commandery, No. 15, Knights Templar, of Asbury Park; and Salaam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic
Shrine. He is also a member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon.
Mr. Holmes married, December 7, 1910, Norma Thorne, and they are the parents of Anna Lora, born September 27, 1911; and Helen Wilson, born March 22, 1915.
JOHN CALVIN RUSH, M. D .- Among the pro- fessional men of Monmouth county, Dr. John Calvin Rush is widely known. He comes of an old New Jersey family, and is a grandson of John Rush, who was born in Springville, now for many years known as Montana, Warren county, New Jersey, February 16, 1798. He spent the greater part of his life- time in his native town, going to Harmony, New Jersey, in his old age, but living only six months thereafter. He followed farming all his life. Politi- cally he was a staunch Democrat. He died in Har- mony in 1881. He married Sallie Beers, and they were the parents of eight children: Jacob F., David B., Peter P., William C., Isaac D., George W., Asak, and Margaret.
William C. Rush, son of John and Sallie (Beers) Rush, and father of Dr. Rush, was born in Harmony, Warren county, New Jersey, April 16, 1832. He was reared and educated there, and lived there all his life, following farming, as had his father before him. He was a man highly esteemed in the com- munity, a loyal Democrat, but never held public office. He died in Eatontown, New Jersey, March 11, 1914, after a long and useful life. At the time of his death he was president and treasurer of the official board, of which he had been a member for more than thirty years, of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Harmony. William C. Rush married (first) Samantha DeReamer, who was born in Har- mony, and was a daughter of John and Rachel (Stiles) DeReamer, farming people of Harmony, all long since deceased. She died in Harmony at the age of forty-nine years.
He married (second) Rebecca who was born in Richmond, Pennsylvania. William C. and Samantha (DeReamer) Rush were the parents of two children: 1. John Calvin, whose name heads this review. 2. Rachael A., who became the wife of Samuel Dunn, a laborer, who died in October, 1918, she surviving him; they were the parents of three children, all living: Mabel, who was educated in the public schools, and is now a teacher in the Belvidere, New Jersey, public schools; Nellie, now the wife of James Brady, who is employed in rail- road work as a clerk; and William C., who has had a high school education, and is now, 1921, assistant postmaster at Belvidere.
John Calvin Rush, son of William C. and Sa- mantha (DeReamer) Rush, was born in Harmony, February 15, 1855. Receiving his early education in the public schools of his native town, he prepared for his professional career by study under Professor March, of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania. He left Harmony at the age of twenty-two years, taugh school for two years in Illinois, then for six years in Hampton, New Jersey, thereafter for six years in Washington, Warren county, New Jer-
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sey, after which he was for six years in Red Bank, this county, and for the past twenty years he has carried on a successful practice in Eatontown, this county, becoming well known and highly esteemed as a physician.
In the public life of Eatontown, Dr. Rush has served the people for three years as township com- mitteeman, and has always been a supporter of the Democratic party. Fraternally, he holds the thirty- second degree in the Masonic order, and is also a member of the Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Junior and Senior orders of United American Mechanics, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Order of the East- ern Star. He is past officer in all these lodges, was for four years worshipful master of Washington Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, and for three years high priest of Hiram Chapter, Royal Arch Masons. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
On November 30, 1882, Dr. Rush married Luella D. Stult, of Harmony, daughter of Henry and Mary Jane (Fine) Stult, both born in Harmony. Her father was a mason by occupation, and died at the age of fifty years, the mother also now being de- ceased. Mrs. Rush is the second of six children: Sallie, wife of John Calvin Hill; Luella D., Mrs. Rush; George; Ezech; Elvira, wife of John C. Mc- Manniman; and Minnie, who died in 1891, at the age of twenty years. Dr. and Mrs. Rush are the parents of three children: 1. Harry Floyd, born November 4, 1885, who is married and has six chil- dren: Cecil, born in 1905; Calvin, born in 1908; Victor, born in 1910; Harry F., born in 1913; Thel- ma, born in 1915; and Maud, born in 1917. 2. Min- nie Ethel, born December 30, 1887. 3. Jessie May, born November 2, 1889, now the wife of Arthur Taylor, who is identified with the grocery business.
CHARLES JOHNSON STRAHAN-A native son of Monmouth, New Jersey, and a product of her public schools, both as pupil and teacher, Mr. Stra- han is eminently fitted by life-time associations, as well as by attainment, for the responsible position which he ably fills, superintendent of public in- struction for the county of Monmouth. He is a son of Reuben G. and Matilda (Hyers) Strahan, who at the time of the birth of their son, Charles J., were living in Clarksburg, Millstone township, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, where they yet reside, Mr. Strahan having retired from active business life. He served the township for forty-five years as collector and forty-seven years as treasurer. He also served two years in the Assembly from Mon- mouth county, and has long been one of the in- fluential Democrats of Millstone township.
Charles J. Strahan was born in Clarksburg, Mill- stone township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, Sep- tember 5, 1877, and here completed public school study. Later, in different colleges, he prepared himself for the profession of pedagogy, and finally began teaching in Millstone township, Monmouth
county. He next taught in Oceanport, later in Oakhurst, going thence to Freehold, as superinten- dent of schools, so continuing until 1915, when he was chosen and installed county superintendent of public instruction, his present position in the edu- cational system of the county.
Mr. Strahan is well known among educators. He is responsible for an advanced health program in the Monmouth schools. He is a man well equipped for the position he holds, and has won the con- fidence and esteem of the people of Monmouth county.
Mr. Strahan is an Independent Democrat; is presi- dent of the Freehold Board of Health; a director of the Monmouth County Board of Agriculture; the Monmouth county organization for social service; the county Young Men's Christian Association; the Monmouth County Chapter of Red Cross, and the Monmouth County Boy Scouts. He is a thirty-sec- ond degree Mason; member of the Masonic Club of Freehold; Junior Order of United American Me- chanics, of Oceanport; National Educational Asso- ciation Superintendents' Round Table of Monmouth county; New Jersey Teachers' Association; Free- hold Golf and Country Club; first president of the Men's Federated Sunday School Classes of Free- hold; member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Oakhurst, of which he was one of the organizers, and an active Sunday school teacher.
Mr. Strahan married, July 3, 1900, Ida Imlay, daughter of James and Lucy Imlay, of Imlaystown, New Jersey.
LEON de la REUSSILLE-Prominent in the mercantile world of Red Bank, New Jersey, as jeweler and watch expert, Mr. de la Reussille, who has followed this occupation in Red Bank for the past thirty-six years, is one of the leading men of the borough.
Mr. de la Reussille was born in les Reussilles, Switzerland, December 6, 1855. He received his education in the public and military schools of his native land, and also served an apprenticeship in Switzerland in watch and case making. He came to the United States in 1880, and located in Free- hold, where a brother, who had preceded him to this country, established in the jewelry business. In 1886 Mr. de la Reussille came to Red Bank and opened a small store in the Childs building. His business grew and prospered, and in 1902 he re- moved to his present quarters at No. 38 Broad street, becoming a leader in his field in this com- munity.
Mr. de la Reussille is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the Monmouth Boat Club.
Mr. de la Reussille married Anna Degenring, who was born in New York City, and is a daughter of Jacob and Sussana Degenring. Mr. Degenring was a veteran of the Civil War and was for many years in the hotel business in Red Bank, where he served for several terms as councilman.
Mr. and Mrs. de la Reussille were the parents of two sons: 1. Leon E. Jr., born in Red Bank,
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charles Easton Hendricksa .
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New Jersey, May 26, 1890, and received his early education in the public schools. He is a graduate of Princeton University, and of Harvard University Law School, and is now taking post-graduate work in law with J. S. Applegate, of Red Bank. He served for three years with the American Expeditionary Forces, with the rank of first lieutenant. 2. Paul J., the younger son, is a graduate of the Miller Busi- ness College, of New York City, and is manager of his father's store.
CHARLES EASTON HENDRICKSON-Broad- ly experienced in various activities, and still a young man, Charles Easton Hendrickson, of Red Bank, is now proprietor of the Knickerbocker Drug Store, one of the leading establishments in this line in the vicinity.
Mr. Hendrickson comes of a family long promi- nent in Monmouth county, and identified with the progress and development of this section. His grandfather, J. Holmes Hendrickson, was for many years proprietor of the Globe Hotel, Red Bank, later conducting a thriving livery and sales busi- ness. He was also largely interested in real estate, and contributed directly to the growth of the town. He married Mary Ellen Borden.
Charles Borden Hendrickson, son of J. Holmes and Mary Ellen (Borden) Hendrickson, was also a prominent man of his day. He was engaged in the furniture and hardware business, and was one of the founders of the Hendrickson & Applegate Com- pany. He died in the prime of life, at thirty-four years of age, his early passing cutting short a most promising career. He married Eliza Ovens, and they were the parents of three children: George Ovens, James Holmes, and Charles Easton.
Charles Easton Hendrickson was born in Red Bank, May 18, 1884. He received his early educa- tion in the public schools of his native place, and was graduated from the Red Bank High School in the class of 1902. He then entered the employ of the Phoenix National Bank, of New York City, after which for a time held a position in the public ser- vice in Elizabeth, New Jersey. During the World War he was connected with the construction depart- ment in the erection of the nitrate plant at Perry- ville, Maryland, from November, 1917, until March, 1919. Thereafter he returned to Red Bank, where he purchased the present business. This pharmacy was established in 1901 by Van Derveer & Van Bus- kirk, and was purchased by Mr. Hendrickson, March 1, 1920, from Robert H. VanDerveer. Since taking possession Mr. Hendrickson has modernized the store and fixtures, and has made it one of the most up-to-date and attractive drug stores in the borough. He carries a full line of drugs and sun- dries, catering to the most exacting and discrimi- nating trade, and safeguarding the public by the most highly skilled service in the drug department.
On October 4, 1919, Mr. Hendrickson married Mathilde (King) Hills, daughter of Thomas King, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and they reside at No. 2 Vesta Place. Mr. Hendrickson is fond of out-door
sports, boating, golf, and fishing, and is the owner of a pleasure motor boat.
ANTHONY T. WOOLLEY-Prominent in finan- cial and economic affairs of Long Branch, Anthony T. Woolley, of that city, is a representative citizen of Monmouth county. He is a son of Mathias Wool- ley, who was for a number of years postmaster of Long Branch and afterwards sheriff of Monmouth county, and was engaged in the fire insurance busi- ness. He married Hannah Truax.
Anthony T. Woolley was born in Oakville, (now Oakhurst) March 27, 1863. The family removing to Long Branch in his childhood, it was here that he received his public and high school education. He entered Eastman's National Business College, at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he made thorough preparations for his career. In 1881 he became connected with the Long Branch Banking Company, in the capacity of bookkeeper. In 1893, on ac- count of the election of his father to the office of sheriff, Mr. Woolley resigned his position with the above institution to take charge of his father's business while the latter was in the service of the county. The insurance business was eventually sold to a cousin, in 1911, and is now carried on under the name of Woolley & Sherman Company. Mean- while in 1911, Anthony T. Woolley became identi- fied with the group of men who projected the New Jersey Mortgage and Trust Company, and as one of the organizers of that corporation was made its first secretary and treasurer, also a director, and later was elected third vice-president, which office he now holds in the organization.
Various other activities have commanded Mr. Woolley's attention for many years. Always a supporter of the Republican party, he served for sixteen years as postmaster of Long Branch and was a member of the board of education for twelve years. Fraternally he is a member of the Free and Accepted Masons, Junior Order of United Am- erican Mechanics, and was past councillor of the latter order. He has long been a member of the Simpson Methodist Episcopal Church, of Long Branch, and is a steward of the church.
On October 12, 1887, in Long Branch, Mr. Wool- ley married Carrie D. Davis, daughter of Daniel D. and Sarah E. (Watson) Davis of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Woolley have six children: Walter M., superintendent of the post office at Elberon, New Jersey; Edgar D., with the Guaranty Trust Company, of New York City; Mildred H., now Mrs. Bowie, of Long Branch; Marian C .; Fran- cis H .; and Anthony T., Jr., now a student at Rut- gers College. The family are very prominent so- cially in Long Branch, and are active in the work of the Methodist church and other benevolent or- ganizations.
WILLIS WOOD-One of the younger men of Monmouth county, Willis Wood is a noteworthy figure, having distinguished himself along mechan- ical lines, and now conducting a successful garage and machine shop, handling aeroplane as well as
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automobile work. He is the only surviving son of Frank S. and Cornelia Wood. His mother and his brother, Cornelius, are both deceased. The elder Mr. Wood is an old resident of Long Branch and is well known as a mason contractor.
Willis Wood was born in Long Branch, New Jer- sey, January 1, 1891, and received his education in the grammar and high schools of his native city. As a boy his chief interest was in mechanical ap- paratus and toys, and he frequently invented differ- ent appliances which broadened the scope of these devices. Upon completing his education, he secured a position with Grant & McFarland, prominent Long Branch machinists, in the capacity of machinist's helper. One of the early pieces of work on which he was engaged in this connection was the first auto- mobile that ever came to Long Branch, a fact which he has always felt to be an honor. Mr. Wood com- pleted a thorough apprenticeship to the machinist's trade with this firm, eventually remaining with them in all for eight years. Then establishing himself in the garage business in Long Branch, he was thus engaged for five years. Disposing of this interest he engaged in the manufacture and designing of aeroplanes. This was early in the history of heavier- than-air flying machines, and in 1910 Mr. Wood built a Curtis type plane, in the old "pusher" style, the pilot sitting ahead of the motor and steering with his shoulders, instead of with the feet as the plane of today is built. Mr. Wood made his first successful flight in 1913, flying from the old Ellwood Park race track, on the outskirts of Long Branch. Crowds gathered from far and near to witness the maneuvers which the young aviator was able to per- form, and great interest was shown. After the flight the plane was placed on exhibition at the Long Branch Casino, and attracted wide notice.
During the World War Mr. Wood was stationed at the Lakehurst Proving Grounds, at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in charge of the trenches, railways and pumping system. In this connection he accom- plished an ingenious feat. The trenches were con- tinually half filled with water, and twenty different plans had been tried, all devised by expert engi- neers, for removing this water, but without success. Mr. Wood took six Ford motors and six centrifugal pumps and achieved the desired end. His system was subsequently adopted by the United States Government in other camps throughout the entire country, the results being uniformly successful.
Upon receiving his discharge from the army, Mr. Wood returned to Long Branch and accepted a posi- tion as Ford expert with the Eastern Auto Sales Company of New Jersey, with which concern he was identified until the beginning of the year 1921, when he decided to go into business for himself. Establishing his plant at the corner of Broadway and Grand avenue, he now has one of the most up- to-date machine shops in Monmouth county, and handles all kinds of machine work, including auto- mobile and aeroplane motors. He employs only the most highly-skilled mechanics, nevertheless he makes it a rule never to allow a piece of work to leave the shop without his personal inspection. He is his
own foreman, keeping in touch constantly with the work handled, and his business is one of the largest of its kind in this county.
Mr. Wood's favorite recreative interests are ice sports. He built and owns one of the fastest ice boats on the Shrewsbury river. He is a noted skater, and is a cousin of Morris Wood, now the world's champion ice skater, who on January 28, 1922, broke the world's record for two hundred and twenty yards, skating that distance in exactly seven- teen seconds. Mr. Wood is single, and resides with his father at No. 462 West End avenue, Long Branch.
GEORGE DABSON VANDENBERGH, mer- chant, of Englishtown, New Jersey, is a native son of that State, born December 5, 1861, at Prospect Plains, son of Robert R. and Margaret (McChes- ney) Vandenbergh. His father was a native of New York City, born in 1823, died in 1901, and was a painter by occupation during his active life. Mrs. Vandenbergh was born in Jamesburg, New Jersey, and is now deceased.
As a boy, George D. Vandenbergh attended the public schools of his native town, and started his business career as an agriculturist, following which he was engaged in the laundry business for three years in Jamesburg. He was then attracted to mer- cantile interests, and for fifteen years worked as a salesman; in 1889, he went to Englishtown, New Jersey, and was employed there by one of the lead- ing merchants for thirteen years, equipping himself with a knowledge of the business and experience gained only through actual contact. In due course of time Mr. Vandenbergh purchased a business build- ing in Englishtown, and taking part of it for his own use engaged in mercantile business there and has been deservedly successful. He is identified with other business and financial institutions of English- town, being a stockholder of the First National Bank; he is also keenly interested in civic matters, and as a member of the Republican party takes an active part in town affairs; he was elected coun- cilman in 1921, to serve until 1924, and is also ser- ving as president of the Republican Club. His fra- ternal affiliations are with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Jamesburg; the Knights of Pythias; Junior Order of American Mechanics, Englishtown; Maccabees, Englishtown; Olive Branch Lodge, No. 16, Free and Accepted Masons, of Freehold. Mr. Vandenbergh is also an elder and trustee in the First Presbyterian Church.
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