USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 13
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George Walter Potts, son of George and Cynthia (Stevens) Potts, was born in Farmingdale, New Jer- sey. His early education was obtained in the gram- mar schools of Ocean Grove, after which he en- tered the Asbury Park High School which he at-
tended for three years. He matriculated at Pen- nington Seminary, finishing with graduation in 1899. Upon completing his studies he formed a partnership with Roy V. Collins, and established a printing and engraving business. This enterprise continued successfully until 1903, when he sold out his interests, having in the meantime determined to adopt medicine as his profession. Entering the medical department of New York University with this end in view, he devoted himself to earnest study and received from this institution the de- gree of Doctor of Medicine with the class of 1907. After spending one year as an interne at Bellevue Hospital, he returned to Asbury Park, and on Octo- ber 8, 1908, established himself in the practice of his chosen profession. In this he has continued up to the present time, with but one interruption, when he enlisted in the United States Army, serving his country most creditably until his honorable dis- charge, when he returned to Asbury Park and to practice.
On June 17, 1917, Dr. Potts enlisted in the Medi- cal Corps of the United States Army, and being commissioned first lieutenant, was sent to Camp Greenleaf, where he remained until December 15, when he was assigned to the One Hundred and Fourth Engineers, Twenty-Ninth Division, and or- dered to Camp Mcclellan. Subsequently he went to Hoboken, from which place he sailed for France, June 19, arriving at Brest, June 26. He was assigned to the training area No. 5, at LeFond, France; thence to Agoute; Bourbaclesbas, Vicken; Troubach la Vaute; then left for the Argonne sector about September 21, and was invalided back to Marat le Petit, Argonne front, to Field Hospital, No. 9; from here he was sent to the base hospital at Contrexe- ville, where he remained until December 20, 1918; thence to Lismoges Base Hospital, No. 28, and two weeks later was again removed to Bordeaux Base Hospital, No. 104. He sailed on March 11, 1920, for home, arriving March 26, whereupon he was ordered to Camp Dix base hospital, where he received his honorable discharge and immediately returned to practice.
Dr. Potts is a member of the New Jersey State Medical Association; Asbury Park Medical Society; Bellevue Hospital Alumni; New York University and Bellevue Medical Society. He is United States coast service physician; physician on the local Board of Health for nine years; and from a patriotic, fra- ternal and social standing, holds membership in the following: Patriotic Order, Sons of the American Revolution; American Legion; Wheelmen's Club; Asbury Park Fishing Club; and the Asbury Park Golf and Country Club, of which he is a charter member. He attends the First Dutch Reformed church on Grand avenue.
On January 27, 1901, at Glenside, Pennsylvania, Dr. George Walter Potts was united in marriage with Glenna D. Stager, daughter of the late Henry J. Stager and Alice B. (Smith) Stager. Henry J. Stager enlisted at the time of the Civil War, in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Penn-
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sylvania Volunteer Infantry; this was on July 21, 1862. The next year, May 16, he was made a ser- geant, and was mustered out of service. He re- enlisted, July 4, 1863, with the Thirty-ninth Penn- sylvania Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered out of service August 2, 1863. On August 9, 1864, he was offered a second lieutenancy in the U. S. C. T., but declined. Mr. Stager was prominent in the Sons of the American Revolution, being secretary of the Patriotic Sons of America; national presi- dent, for seven years; national secretary, for thir- teen years; Pennsylvania State president, one year; and State secretary, for twenty years. Dr. and Mrs. Potts are the parents of two children: Alice Cyn- thia, born December 4, 1902; Ardath Stager, born January 17, 1905. The family home is at No. 1408 Grand avenue. Dr. Potts is fond of all out-of-door sports, but especially is he devoted to golf and fishing, to which he devotes the little time he can spare from his steadily increasing professional cares.
ABRAM L. DAVISON-In the civic history of Red Bank, Abram L. Davison has held important positions. In 1912, he was elected mayor of the town, an office he was obliged to resign in the fol- lowing year because of his health, having been tem- porarily impaired by an accident. The Davison family were prominent in Colonial days, in New England and Virginia and in New York and New Jersey. Old Post Town, Somerset county, New Jersey, is his birth place; the date, April 16, 1867. He is one of the seven sons of Lewis and Elizabeth (Cox) Davison. Lewis Davison was born in Mer- cer county, New Jersey, in 1822. Pursuing his busi- ness as a carpenter, when the Civil War broke out be enlisted, serving in the infantry. All his chil- dren are residents of New Jersey.
Ex-Mayor Davison was educated in the Fairview School, near Oceanic Station, New Jersey, taking up farming as soon as school days were over. After devoting two years to the somewhat strenuous life of the farm, he apprenticed himself as a carriage maker in David Cox's establishment at Princeton. After several years there he settled at Red Bank, and in 1891 took a position with the Messrs. Mount, remaining in their employ eleven years. He then started in business for himself again on Mechanic street. The building he now occupies, known as the "Davison building," is on Monmouth street, cor- ner of Maple avenue. Here he carries on his busi- ness as an auto body builder. It was in 1912 that he erected the Davison building, in the same year that he was called to preside over the city as its chief executive. He was one of the first of his busi- ness in Monmouth county. Mr. Davison is affiliated with various societies. For many years he was treasurer of the Society of the Foresters of America. He is a member of the Daughters of Liberty, and a past councillor of American Mechanics, of which he had been a member for over thirty years.
In 1889, Mr. Davison married Miss Annie John- son, daughter of Richard Johnson and wife, who was born Hughes, both natives of Kingston, New
Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Davison have one son, Har- old, and three daughters: Mary, Fannie and Esther Ruth.
HORACE EMMONS TREAT was born in Brook- lyn, New York, October 1, 1856, and is a son of John Bethel and Catherine (Emmons) Treat. His mother was born in Brooklyn. His father, who was also born in Brooklyn, was a school teacher and served in the United States Army for a year and a half during the Civil War. He died August 12, 1865, at Darien, in Connecticut.
Mr. Treat received his early education in the public schools of Darien, Connecticut. From Darien, his family moved to Rahway, New Jersey, and Mr. Treat lived at Rahway for ten years. From Rah- way, Mr. Treat moved in 1883 to Freehold, New Jersey. He obtained employment in the shoe de- partment of David Clark Perrine's dry goods estab- lishment, and worked there for three years. In 1886, however, he left Mr. Perrine's employment and became manager and cashier for the Henry Rothchild Shirt Company. He remained with the Rothchild Company for fifteen years. In 1900, he left the Rothchild Company, and established him- self in business in partnership with A. I. Marcus. The partners conducted a dry goods, millinery, and shoe establishment for ten years, at the end of which Mr. Treat purchased Mr. Marcus' interest in the business. In 1912, Mr. Treat incorporated the business under the firm name, "H. E. Treat & Com- pany." Mr. Treat is one of the best known and most substantial members of the business com- munity. By his industry and energy he has built up a large and flourishing business, and is generally regarded as a public-spirited and influential citizen.
Mr. Treat is a member of the Methodist Epis- copal church. He is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Royal Arcanum, and is a member of the Order of United American Mechanics. He also belongs to the Patriotic Order of the Sons of America.
He married Cordilda Muddell at Rahway, New Jersey, October 26, 1881. Mrs. Treat was born at Elizabeth, New Jersey, June 8, 1859, and is a daughter of Ebenezer and Catherine (Brant) Mud- dell. Her father, who was born in England, was a contractor. He served in the United States Army during the Civil War, and held the rank of cap- tain when he retired from the service. Her mother was born in New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Treat have six children: Horace Edward Treat, who was born at Rahway, New Jersey, January 24, 1883; Cassie May Treat, who was born at Freehold, December 25, 1885; Florence Cordilda Treat, who was born at Freehold, February 18, 1888; Albert Borsthard Treat, who was born at Freehold, August 5, 1892; Lillian Brant Treat, who was born at Freehold in 1894; and Warren Hepburn Treat, who was born at Freehold, September 30, 1899.
FRANK PITTENGER-For nearly two decades, Frank Pittenger has been a part of the mercantile
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and official life of Red Bank, New Jersey, fifteen of these years, 1902-1917, having been spent in active business. For two years he was chief execu- tive of that most representative of modern New Jersey communities, and for eight years, 1913-1921, has been local head of the department of the gen- eral government that most nearly touched the in- dividual and the homes of this broad land of ours,- the post office. To conduct these offices to the full satisfaction of the people of Red Bank, and to do his duty as a sworn official, was the task to which Mr. Pittenger addressed himself, and he succeeded.
Frank Pittenger was born in Howell township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, February 11, 1873, son of Daniel and Harriet M. (Clayton) Pittenger, his parents both born in Monmouth county, where Daniel Pittenger died in 1902, aged seventy-three; his wife in 1918, at eighty-six years. Daniel Pit- tenger .was a farmer of Howell township, a mem- ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in poli- tics, an ardent Democrat. Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Pit- tenger were the parents of three sons: Charles, of Red Bank; Frank, of further mention; James, of Long Branch, New Jersey.
Frank Pittenger spent his early youth at the home farm in Howell township, attended the dis- trict school and aided in the work of the farm. At the age of sixteen he entered the employ of a butcher at Adelphi, and there learned the meat busi- ness in all its detail. In March, 1902, he engaged in business under his own name, at No. 39 Broad street, Red Bank, New Jersey, and from that year, until 1917, conducted a modern meat market at that location. In 1917, he sold his business, and retired from active participation in the mercantile life of his city.
In politics a Democrat, Mr. Pittenger took an interest in public affairs, and became a recognized party leader. In 1910-1911, he was Mayor of Red Bank, and since July 1, 1913, has been postmaster, appointed by President Wilson, but presumably will be retired at the expiration of his second term, now approaching. During his term as postmaster, the present Red Bank post office building was erected. As Mayor he ruled wisely, and his incumbency of both these important offices has resulted in good for the people, and has enhanced his own reputa- tion. Mr. Pittenger is a member of Red Bank Lodge, No. 233, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; and Lodge No. 73, Knights of Pythias.
Frank Pittenger married, October 11, 1896, Laura A. Polhemus, daughter of William and Esther (Hankins) Polhemus. The family home in Red Bank is No. 21 Washington street. The years of his residence in Red Bank have been years of de- velopment for Mr. Pittenger, for he came a young man from the country; and in the larger town his talents and ability had the opportunity they needed for development. As a public official, he gained that broader outlook, and he can review his two decades in Red Bank with satisfaction.
DR. ELMER CLARKE HAZARD-A member of the New Jersey medical fraternity, Dr. Hazard has
had an extremely interesting career, his experience as a student and practitioner of medicine, extending to Egypt, Persia, and Siberia. His knowledge of hospital conditions is consequently world-wide in its scope, and has been gained by actual experience and observation.
He was born in New York City, December 17, 1879, and is a son of Edward Clarke and Florence A. (Frothingham) Hazard. His father, who died at Shrewsbury, New Jersey, in 1905, was a manu- facturer of food products, and the owner of a whole- sale grocery house.
Dr. Hazard received his early education in the public schools. He was also a pupil at Blair Acad- emy, Blairstown, New Jersey, and after his gradua- tion entered the department of pharmacy at Colum- bia University. In 1900 he graduated with the de- gree of Graduate Pharmacist. The following year, he received the degree of Doctor of Pharmacy, and entered the medical department of the University of Maryland. He graduated from the University in 1904 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine, and during the same year passed the examinations of the New York State Board. In 1905, he gradu- ated from the University of Algiers with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Dr. Hazard served as an interne at the Franklin Square Hospital at Balti- more, Maryland, for eighteen months. In 1907, he graduated from Providence University in Ohio, with the degree of Doctor of Science.
Before coming to Long Branch in 1917, Dr. Haz- ard had an office in New York City, where he en- gaged in general practice and conducted a labora- tory. In 1917, however, he established himself at Long Branch, where he has a large general prac- tise, and a finely equipped laboratory. He is a specialist in X-Ray work of every description. Dr. Hazard serves on the surgical staff of the Franklin Square Hospital at Baltimore. He is also gynæcolo- gist at that hospital and attends there one day every week. He is also on the staff of the West End National Hospital at Baltimore. He is a mem- ber of the American Medical Association, the Balti- more City Medical Society; the Medical and Sur- gical Society of Maryland; and the American Chem- ical Society. His college fraternity is Kappa Psi. He is also a member of the Society of Chemical Industry, of London.
Dr. Hazard married Pearl A. White of Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania, June 26, 1907. Dr. and Mrs. Hazard have one child, Edward Clarke Hazard. In the fall of 1921, Dr. Hazard established in Long Branch a private hospital with twenty-four beds, for general treatment.
CHARLES ROGERS-About 1840, Britton Rog- ers, then a resident of that section of the New Jer- sey coast known as "Red Pond," now Spring Lake started Westward with his family and household goods in a covered wagon of that type known a: the "Prairie Schooner." The journey was long an' tiresome, and while enroute his son, Charles Roger£ was born. The journey was delayed somewhat, but Britton Rogers continued his journey Westward
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finally arriving at Logansport, Iowa, where he died in 1845. He married Eliza Howland, who, two weeks after the death of her husband, bore a son, George W. Rogers, the veteran expressman of Ocean Grove and Asbury Park. In 1846 she re- turned with her children to Monmouth county, her son Charles being then six years of age, George W., but one year old. Mrs. Rogers was a daughter of Cook Howland, the leading contractor and builder of the twin towns, Ocean Grove and Asbury Park in their early history, and after her return to her native Monmouth county, Mrs. Rogers bought a small farm in the Glendale section of Wall town- ship, and there reared her sons to lives of useful- ness. She died in 1869.
Charles Rogers was born April 6, 1840, and spent the first six years of his life in Logansport, Iowa. In 1845 his father, Britton Rogers, died, and a year later his mother, Eliza (Howland) Rogers, returned East with her children and bought a small farm in Wall township, Monmouth county, New Jersey. The lad, Charles, spent his boyhood at the farm and attended the Glendale District School. He remain- ed at the farm in Wall township until reaching manhood, then came to the infant settlement found- ed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association and called "Ocean Grove", now with Asbury Park, a wonderful summer community with a large per- manent population. He learned the carpenter's trade, and later, when the great building movement arrived, he became a contractor of building and one of the most important men of the twin cities until his retirement.
Mr. Rogers is credited with having built the first house in Ocean Grove (at first a tent colony) and of constructing one of the first in Asbury Park. After finishing the fall building season of 1873, Mr. kogers moved to a farm which he had bought in Neptune township, known as "the Harry Uman farm," and that farm was his home for twenty- seven years, until 1900. Besides cultivating his farm, Mr. Rogers engaged in real estate dealing, buying and selling farm property, his principal line. In 1900 he moved to Bradley Beach, where he had built a residence at No. 703 Fifth avenue, where he has since lived retired from business cares. He is now ranked with the octogenarians, and his memory carries back to the very beginning of the wonderful development of the New Jersey coast between Long Branch and Point Pleasant, a develop- ment in which he bore a part.
Mr. Rogers is Democratic in his sympathies, but he is first a Prohibitionist and for half a century worked for and voted for men of declared tem- perance and prohibition principles. He never fal- tered in his faith in the ultimate triumph of the principle, and has lived to see the liquor traffic out- lawed by constitutional amendment. For ten years he was overseer of the poor for Neptune township. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and a man thoroughly respected wherever known.
Mr. Rogers married, at Hamilton, in Neptune township, Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 15,
1865, Mary Elizabeth Van Note, of Great Pond, in that township, a daughter of William and Mar- garet Van Note. Mr. and Mrs. Rogers are the par- ents of five children.
JOEL P. FIELDS was born in Eatontown town- ship, New Jersey, on September 14, 1852. His grandfather was John Fields, an early settler, who purchased the farm originally owned by David Woodmansee in Eatontown township, together with the farm buildings and the house erected by the owner in the year 1788. This fine Colonial home- stead, with three hundred acres of fertile agricul- tural land, has been the property of the Fields' family ever since and is now owned by Mr. Fields.
Mr. Fields is the second son of Edmund and Mary (Jackson) Fields. His father was born in 1812, and spent the greater part of his life on the Fields' farm. He owned a brickyard and had other outside interests, but the farm was his chief busi- ness concern, as well as his favorite place of resi- dence. He had five children: Jane, who is the wife of Mr. Hendrickson; Frank, who was killed by a threshing machine on the farm; Joel P., the present owner of the farm; and Ira and Benjamin, who are both dead.
Mr. Fields was educated in the district school and found his life work ready to his hand in the fine opportunity afforded him by his father of becoming a skilled agriculturist. He learned the business of general farming and finally became a specialist in truck farming, raising fruit and vegetables for the market created by the summer colony. At one time he decided to venture into another field of busi- ness and became the manager of a brickyard owned by his father, but a trial of this work convinced him that farming was more to his taste and he returned to agriculture.
When Mr. Fields inherited the family farm, he named it Gold Hill in memory of a curious circum- stance. Some years before, when there was a large flock of sheep on the place and it was the custom to blanch the wool with water drawn from the ancient well, particles of gold were brought up in the well bucket and gold was also found in the crop of a chicken killed on the place. These par- ticles of gold were sent away for examination and cuff links were finally made of them. The mysteri- ous presence of gold on the farm has never been satisfactorily explained, but the place is now known far and wide as Gold Hill Farm.
In politics, Mr. Fields is a Democrat. He has never married.
LEVIS S. CHASEY-One of the substantial and prosperous citizens of Red Bank, who has achieved an enviable position entirely through his own en- ergy, ingenuity and artistic taste, is Levis S. Chasey, founder and owner of the Monmouth Rustic Manu- facturing Company, which is located at No. 113 Hilton street, Red Bank.
Mr. Chasey is descended from an old and promi- nent New Jersey family, and is a son of William
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and Anna C. (Dyer) Chasey. His father was born York. Then coming to Red Bank, in 1910, Mr. in Monmouth county, and for many years was & truck farmer, being also actively engaged as a miller; the mother was born in New York City. Both are now deceased.
Levis S. Chasey was born at Tinton Falls, New Jersey, March 20, 1863, and received his education in the public schools of his native town. Becoming a resident of Red Bank at the age of fifteen years, the young man was engaged in various occupations until he was twenty years old, when he conceived the idea of making rustic furniture commercially. He began in a very small way, doing the work by hand, entirely alone. From the first he found a market for his creations, and by 1887 was doing such a considerable business, that he opened a small factory on Monmouth street, in Red Bank. As time passed his work created its own demand, and his attractive and artistic designs were widely sought. Gradually he took up the manufacture of a greater variety of furniture, keeping, however, to his own original designs, which became widely popular. He now does a very large business, and his nephew, Sidney Chasey, is his assistant. They manufacture a large variety of lawn and porch furniture, sum- mer houses, flower stands, and many articles for special purposes or locations, all constructed in ar- tistic designs.
One of Mr. Chasey's interesting bits of work was accomplished in 1914, and consists of a large chair, built of wood, furnished by the governors of every State of the forty-eight States of the Union. This chair was Mr. Chasey's own idea, and when com- pleted he sent it to the California exposition, where it attracted much attention, and where visitors from all over this country and abroad, took advantage of a short rest in its capacious seat. This chair was built without the use of a single nail, and is now in the possession of its maker. In public affairs Mr. Chasey takes a deep interest, although he has never borne a leading part in political affairs. He is a staunch supporter of the Democratic party. He has been a member of Union Hose Company, and of the Red Bank Volunteer Fire Department for the past twenty-six years.
WALTER MAHNS-One of the enterprising mer- chants whose business is advancing the general good of the community, is Walter Mahns, of Red Bank, proprietor of Mahns' Bicycle Exchange, which is located at No. 27 East Front street. Mr. Mahns was born in Hamburg, Germany, August, 1881, and is a son of Louis and Marie Mahns.
He was educated in the schools of his native land, and became familiar with the bicycle business in that country, coming to America in March of the year 1904. He located first in New York City, where he was employed for about one year, then came to New Jersey and became a resident of As- bury Park, where he established a business along the same general lines as he is now following. After five years at Asbury Park he sold this busi- ness to advantage, and spent another year in New
Mahns established the present business. Beginning in a modest way he has developed what is now the largest business of its kind in Monmouth county. He carries a full line of bicycles of many makes, ordinarily carrying as many as one hundred in stock at a time, and doing a large proportion of his busi- ness on the "easy payment" plan. He also handles automobile supplies, talking machines, express wagons as well as several specialties which might be classed in this group. Mr. Mahns is considered one of the leading business men of Red Bank, and fra- ternally holds membership with the Modern Wood- men of the World.
In 1909 Walter Mahns married, in New York City, Elise Ahders, and they have two sons, Louis and Walter. They reside at No. 27 East Front street, and are members of the Lutheran church.
DR. FRANK GREGORY STRAHAN is a son of Reuben G. and M. (Hyers) Strahan, and was born at Clarksburg, New Jersey, on July 5, 1887. Some years ago, Mr. Reuben G. Strahan retired from ac- tive participation in business. He is a Democrat and has been an influential member of the party in New Jersey, helping to shape its policies and to promote its interests. He served as a member of the Assembly.
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