USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume II > Part 54
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merchant, and with the $5,500 which he had accum- ulated he began business in Spring Lake. He had had more than ten years' practical experience, knew the value of merchandise, was endowed with a ge- nial disposition, and his business has constantly in- creased, and now, 1921, he has branch stores in Lakewood and Asbury Park. The merchandise con- sists of a unique line of bric-a-brac, furniture and glassware. Naturally endowed with artistic taste, Mr. Brown has from time to time visited Europe to purchase directly from the manufacturers many of the gems of art which now adorn wealthy homes in the county. So well and artistically selected is his stock that goods are shipped to cities and towns in all parts of the country.
Although remarkably successful as a merchant, Mr. Brown has by no means confined his efforts to mercantile affairs. As a financier he is an acknowl- edged leader, and has been the leading spirit in the organizations and management of several important institutions. While residing in Asbury Park he par- ticipated in the organization of the Asbury Park Building and Loan Association; was one of the or- ganizers of the First National Bank of Asbury Park, and acted as its vice-president for a period of ten years; was one of the organizers of the Monmouth Trust and Safe Deposit Company, serving as one of its board of directors until 1901; was an or- ganizer of the Lakewood Trust Company and a member of its board since its inception. He was the controlling spirit in the formation of the First National Bank of Spring Lake, and the First Na- tional Bank of Lakewood, and has been president of both organizations; is a director of the First National Bank of Bradley Beach; director of the First National Bank of Farmingdale; and has large interests in other Monmouth county enterprises. He is largely interested in the New Monmouth Hotel of Spring Lake, and has always been its treasurer; the owner also of a number of hotels or. the coast of New Jersey; is president of the New Essex and Sussex Hotel of Spring Lake, and of the New Mon- terey Hotel at Asbury Park.
Politically Mr. Brown is a staunch and zealous Republican. He was one of the members of the first Council of the borough of Spring Lake, and acted in that capacity until his election to the mayoralty. When Spring Lake, North Spring Lake and Como consolidated, he was elected the first mayor and has held that position since 1894. In 1896 he was nominated for a seat in the House of Assembly of 1897, and served one term. In 1902 the Republicans of the county named him as their candi- date for the State Senate, and he was renominated in 1905, 1908 and 1911, serving in the Upper House nine years. In 1900 he was honored by being cho- sen as a delegate to the National Republican Con- vention at Philadelphia which renominated President Mckinley with Theodore Roosevelt on the ticket as the candidate for vice-president. Mr. Brown is a member of St. Andrew's Methodist Episcopal Church of Spring Lake. Mr. Brown has given a plot of ground, triangular in shape, also a community build-
ing as a memorial to the soldier boys, this building costing over $100,000.
The career of Oliver Huff Brown is the story of obstacles overcome and fine ambitions achieved through sheer dint of that winderful American pluck of which we are so proud. He has taken advantage of every opportunity offered, and has by hard work, and with an abiding confidence in his own ability to overcome whatever obstacles might befall, won his way to success.
NELSON SMOCK-It is safe to say that no resi- dent of Eatontown, New Jersey, is better known to three generations of his fellow-citizens than is the man whose name furnishes the caption of this re- view. Mr. Smock, in addition to having been for many years an active member of his home com- munity, has an honorable record as a veteran of the Civil War.
William Rulif Smock, father of Nelson Smock, was born at Holmdel, New Jersey, and followed the calling of a farmer. He married Cornelia Stillwell, a member of the Joseph Stillwell family of Mon- mouth county, and their children were: Nelson, mentioned below; Joseph; and Eleanor. William R. Smock died in 1884, at the age of seventy, having spent the last year of his life in retirement at Red Bank, New Jersey. Mrs. Smock died in 1853.
Nelson Smock, son of William R. and Cornelia (Stillwell) Smock, was born February 4, 1835, on a farm known as the Peter R. Smock farm, two and a half miles east of Holmdel village. The first school which he attended was in a little old two room shanty on the road leading from Holmdel to Red Bank, near Sandener or Leedsville, now Lin- croft. He attended that school and a Holmdel school until about thirteen years of age, when his father traded farms with Aaron Van Marten, of Scobeyville, in Atlantic township, and then his school days ended. He married, in 1861, and in 1862 enlisted in the Twenty-ninth Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, under the call for nine months men. At the close of his term of enlist- ment he was honorably discharged, June 30, 1863. and joined his wife at Tinton Falls, where she had rented a home.
During the summer of 1864 Mr. Smock worked "out," and early in the fall hired with William Hendrickson, then operating the Tinton Falls gris: mill. He drove the mill delivery wagon that win- ter, but in the early spring became manager of the William R. Dowling farm at Tinton Farms. After two years in that position he rented the William N. Smith farm in Middletown township, or the share plan. At different times he worked the Dowling. John Hedden, and the Widow Gordon farms, and later, while living on a small farm near Edinburg. now Vanderburg, he bought and operated a thresh- ing machine for about four years. He then sold out his threshing business and moved to South Eaton- town, to the Captain David Wolcott farm. That spring he began dealing in potatoes as a whole- saler. Potatoes then could be bought from the
alphonsus G. Franck
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ers for from one dollar and fifty cents to two 's and fifty cents per barrel, and by delivering in Asbury Park Mr. Smock readily obtained three dollars and fifty cents to four dollars hem. In the early summer of that year he jed regularly in the huckstering business and ntinued for four years.
1884 he bought a house and double lot on White , Eatontown, and on February 22, 1886, started .ge line between Eatontown and Red Bank, ng through Shrewsbury. He ran that stage very profitably for eleven years, and then the y came on the scene and the stage disappeared. the Monmouth Park race course was in its Mr. Smock had three stages on the road which [ht him in good returns financially. At the time, through the aid of James B. Hathaway, cured a contract to deliver all mail and ex- matter between the post office and the railroad n in Eatontown, continuing for about ten . He operated a one-horse watering cart gh the village for four years then, through indly offices of William R. Stevens, was placed arge of the boulevard between Crystal Brook Wolf Hill, and at the same time operated the county water wagon put on the road. In 1891 as elected overseer of the roads in a contest John Johnston, who had been overseer for al years, winning by a majority of four votes. 1 the township undertook the transportation
e eastern district school children to the new il house, Mr. Smock made a contract to carry hildren and for three years that contract was :ce. From that time until October, 1915, he did ivery and carting business, then retired from ctive work, and has since lived a retired life 3 home in Eatontown.
. Smock is a member of James B. Morris Post, 46, Grand Army of the Republic, of Long ch, New Jersey; member of Pride of Crescent cil, No. 5, Daughters of Liberty, of Eatontown; ber of Weequehelah Tribe, No. 196, Improved r of Red Men, (treasurer twenty-eight years) ; pt member of Hook and Ladder Fire Company, ., of Eatontown. He is a Democrat in politics, g and using his influence in behalf of that party, n religious faith is a Presbyterian, belonging to hurch in Eatontown. He is an honorary mem- of Crescent Lodge, No. 93, Junior Order of ed American Mechanics.
January 17, 1861, at Tinton Falls, New Jersey, ›n Smock married Catherine Walton, born , daughter of John L. and Eleanor (Wilson) on. Children and grandchildren have come to Smock, who is now just entering upon his y-eighth year, his own children numbering
: George Edward; Maria; Cornelia; Frank, sed; Ella; Laura, deceased; William and Leon. record of the life of a fine old man now near- nonagenarian honors is taken from his own iscript, written when he was eighty years of
further writes of the personal knowledge he
has of the Smocks of the "twenties," "thirties", "forties" and "fifties":
My grandfather, Rulif Smock, owned in those early years about 500 acres in our plot, and to his son, Peter R., he gave a farm when he married, and gave a farm to his son, John R. Smock. The third son, William R. Smock, remained on the home farm. The only daughter of the family, Eleanor, married George G. Smock, a widower, with four sons and one daughter. His farm was two miles east of Holmdel, in the Pleasant Valley district. The four sons of George G. Smock were: Garrett, who lived and died at the homestead in Pleasant Valley, a bachelor; Daniel, a land owner and farmer of Pleasant Valley; Robert, a farmer, tilling his own acres in Atlantic township, two miles east of the village of Holmdel; John H., remained on the homestead in Pleasant Valley, marrying late in life.
ALPHONSUS A. FRANCK-It is safe to assume that a man who has, after a residence of a few years in a place, risen to be president of the Borough Council, is well known to a majority of his fellow- citizens, and as Mr. Franck now holds that office his name is of course familiar to almost every in- habitant of Keansburg. In addition to his political reputation he is also an established business man.
Christian Franck, father of Alphonsus A. Franck, was born in Germany. He married Caroline Couf- man, a native of Alsace-Lorraine. Their children were: Christian A., born in New York City, mar- ried Barbara Palm, and they had one child, Laura; Alphonsus A., mentioned below; Caroline, deceased; Mamie, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Franck both died in New York City, the former in 1890, aged fifty- four, and the latter in 1886, at the age of forty- nine.
Alphonsus A. Franck, son of Christian and Caro- line (Coufman) Franck, was born August 7, 1879, in New York City, and there received his education, completing his course of study at the high school. On March 28, 1914, he came to Raritan township, and for some time conducted a restaurant and gro- cery store. In 1917, when the borough was formed, Mr. Franck became one of the original members of the Council, and is now president of that body, in which his clear judgment and sound, sensible ad- vice have always been highly appreciated. He is a representative of the Democratic party.
Mr. Franck married, January 24, 1904, Mary Bu- bell, born in Alsace-Lorraine, daughter of John and Louise Bubell. Mrs. Franck died in 1915, at Keansburg, at the age of thirty-three, leaving no children.
Alphonsus A. Franck has made his own way in the world, and the standing he has achieved in his community is proof of his executive ability and sterling character.
JOHN AUGUSTUS CHASEY, general contractor of North Long Branch, New Jersey, was born March 1, 1886, at Monmouth Beach, son of John A. and Dorothy (Holman) Chasey.
He was educated in the public schools of Long
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Branch. At an early age he served his apprentice- ship in the carpenter's trade, and in 1912 engaged in the building business on his own account, doing both contract work and repair work. He has had very fine success, insured by the high quality of his work, and many fine estates built by him are tes- timonials of his workmanship. In politics Mr. Cha- sey is an Independent Republican, and is a mem- ber of the Junior Order of American Mechanics.
Mr. Chasey married, at Point Pleasant, Lillian Hyers, daughter of Aaron and Martha (Duncan) Hyers, and they are the parents of two daughters: Lillian Marie and Doris Elizabeth Chasey. With his family Mr. Chasey attends Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, of North Long Branch.
JOHN MOUNT LAIRD-One of the most ener- getic men to be found in Monmouth county is the citizen of Tennent whose name stands at the head of this article. Mr. Laird is actively public-spirited, taking a helpful interest in all he thinks most con- ducive to the welfare and prosperity of his com- munity.
John Mount Laird was born November 7, 1877, in Marlboro, New Jersey, and is a son of Ephraim and Anna (Mount) Laird. Mr. Laird was a farmer; he and his wife are natives of Perrineville, New Jersey, but he is now living retired at Tennent. The edu- cation of John Mount Laird was received in the public schools of Tennent, and after leaving school he assisted his father in the cultivation of the home- stead farm of eighty-five acres, planted chiefly with potatoes. At the end of fifteen years Mr. Laird ex- changed a farmer's life for that of a business man, and in 1915 established himself in the produce busi- ness at Tennent, which enterprise proved very suc- cessful. On June 16, 1920, he bought a general store at Tennent, and has since conducted a flourish- ing and steadily increasing trade in general mer- chandise and farming implements. He also owns two farms of one hundred and fifteen acres each, and on both of these he specializes in potatoes. One farm is located at Englishtown, Manalapan township; the other is between Freehold and Ten- nent, on the site of the historic battleground of Monmouth, and Molly Pitcher's well is supposed to be located thereon.
Politically Mr. Laird is a Republican, but has never allowed himself to be made a candidate for office. He affiliates with the Knights of Pythias, belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association, of Tennent, is president of the Brotherhood of Old Tennent Presbyterian Church, and is a former trus- tee of Englishtown Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Laird married (first), January 16, 1902, at Englishtown, New Jersey, Ella Conover, born at that place March 16, 1883, daughter of William G. and Mary E. (Rue) Conover, both natives of En- glishtown. Mr. Conover, who was a farmer, was also township collector of Manalapan. Mr. and Mrs. Laird were the parents of one daughter: Anna Mount, born November 24, 1903, at Tennent, New Jersey, who has been educated in the English-
town grammar schools and at the Freekold H School. Mrs. Laird died September 16. 1917, : Mr. Laird married (second), October 29, 1920, Hollis, Long Island, New York, Anna Van Sid daughter of Martin H. and Estelle Van Sielen.
The record of John Mount Laird is that of able, honorable business man and an active, nu citizen. It is men of his type who are the m stays of their communities.
WILLIAM STILLWELL ROSE, of Red Ba Monmouth county, New Jersey, is the seventh of William S. Rose, Sr., and Abigail (Van Ei Rose. He was born on a farm near New Eg Ocean county, New Jersey, May 18, 1867. His lier education was obtained in the rural pei schools of Monmouth county. He afterwards g uated from Long Branch High School, Trenton B ness College, and took a special course in Sciences and Pedagogy, at the New Jersey St Normal School.
While a student at Long Branch High School, walked four and a half miles morning and af noon ,and finished the four years' high school co in three years. While attending the Trenton B ness College, he worked his way through sch and was the first student ever graduated from institution up to 1885, who paid their entire exper by their own labors. His work began at 6 o'd in the morning and did not end until after mi school at 9 o'clock P. M. In 1888 he took his ! county examination and obtained his third g county certificate. He afterwards completed all examinations, before both County and State Bo of Examiners, and received from the State Supe tendent of Public Instruction the highest certifi issued at that time for written examinations. fourteen years he taught continuously and succ fully in the public schools of New Jersey. Am his appointments were principal of Absecon, 1 Jersey, public school; principal for four year Roseland, Essex county, public school; supervi principal of Greenwich, New Jersey, public scho and supervising principal of New Egypt pu school, including the five schools in the distric
Mr. Rose married, February 24, 1892, Eva Rose; she has been a faithful helpmate. In sick and in health, in adversity and in prosperity, she been ever the same. From this union twelve ( dren have been born, three girls and nine boys living and all perfectly healthy. The oldest dal ter was valedictorian of her class at the E School; one of the boys was salutatorian of class; another took a silver cup, another a { medal; in fact, they have taken more honors in ) school than any other family in Red Bank. TI of the boys were in the World War service, all enlisted without being drafted.
After being graduated from the Trenton Busin College, in 1885, Mr. Rose accepted a position bookkeeper and shipping clerk for the Rumson series, on Rumson Road, and continued with tl under the receiver and made out the final st.
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Johan M. Land
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