USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 38
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James Madison, who afterwards became presi- dent of the United States-the fourth-was a close friend of the poet, and spent many happy and yet painful days at Mount Pleasant, vainly wooing the poet's sister. The correspondence between the poet and Mr. Madison extended over many years, even long after the latter became president. In one letter to him from Mount Pleasant, Mr. Freneau says "a letter put into the Post Office at Philadel- phia on Saturday morning will reach me on Wed- nesday." The distance is about sixty miles.
After an adventurous career, Mr. Freneau set- tled down to pass the closing years of his life on his homestead at Mount Pleasant. Here he lived many years, much respected by his neighbors and friends. He was of a social disposition, and it was his practice almost nightly to go to "the Point" and
pass an hour or two in the circulating library there (one of the first in the county) to converse with friends. On the night of December 18, 1832, he stayed later than usual. When he started for home the night was dark and blusterous, and several friends, among them William L. Dayton, who after- wards became United States Senator and Minister to France, offered to accompany him home, but the poet positively refused to permit them, and he trudged off into the night alone. A fierce snow storm arose while he was making his way home- ward, and he became bewildered and lost his way, stumbled into a ditch, and broke his leg near the hip. Helpless and alone, in the terrible blizzard, the venerable poet, almost eighty years of age, died in the bitter, cold night. He was buried under his favorite locust tree, beneath which he had composed the most of his famous poems, and a modest marble shaft has been erected over his grave to his memory, and the nearby village and railroad station of Freneau on the Freehold and Matawan branch of the Central Railroad of New Jersey is named for him.
THEODORE WEST-West is a familiar name along the upper Jersey coast, many of the name being seafaring men, some of them sailors and some fishermen, whose daily return from the sea with their fish laden boats is one of the interesting sights at Sea Bright, Galilee, and Long Branch. To this life Theodore West was early trained, and even as a boy, when bait chopping was his share of the day's work, (for Jersey Coast fishermen do not fish for fun) he could ride his boat through the surf and effect a safe landing. He was a son of James and Jane (Woolley) West, his father a fisherman, wise to all the ways of the sea, who taught his son as he had been taught by his father.
Theodore West was born at Fresh Ponds, Mon- mouth county, New Jersey, March 19, 1854. He at- tended the public schools, then began going out with his father, finally taking his place as a regular with a fishing boat of his own. For many years he continued a fisherman, but finally retired and es- tablished in business as a house painter, every fisherman being a painter from the fact that he must keep his boats and shore gear well painted to preserve them. For the past twenty-six years the village of Rumson was his home, and there he was well established as a contractor of painting. Mr. West was a Republican in politics, actively concern- ed for the welfare of his party. He was a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, and a man highly respected in his community. He married, in Sea Bright, New Jersey, February 18, 1877, Julia F. Van Brunt, daughter of Elijah and Phoebe Ann (Chadwick) Van Brunt. Nineteen children were born to Mr. and Mrs. West, eleven of whom are living, eight dying in infancy. The living are: Leolin, Irene A., Percy, Avon, Marshall, Theodosia, Zelda, Alvah, Ula, Addelle, Thelma.
EDWIN CLARK REED is a self-made man. He received his early education in the public
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Res. Gerardo Cristiana
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schools of New Brunswick, New Jersey, but was obliged to leave school on account of the death of his father. At that time he went to work for the Middlesex Shoe Company of New Brunswick and has continued to wage a winning fight with fortune ever since. In 1911 he moved to Keans- burg, New Jersey, where he has since been engaged in the automobile business. He is the owner of a well-equipped and well-located garage.
Mr. Reed was born on January 12, 1875, at New- ark, New Jersey. He is a son of James Henry Reed, who was born in Connecticut in 1849, and died in 1884, and Henrietta (Huchinson) Reed, who is still living (1922). Mr. Reed's father was a car- penter and builder.
Mr. Reed has three brothers, Alvin, Herbert and Millford. He is a member of the Catholic church; and belongs to the Junior Order of Ameri- can Mechanics, Goodwill Branch, No. 32, of New Brunswick. In politics he is an Independent.
Mr. Reed married Margaretta Demphy, April 24, 1906, at Newark, New Jersey. Mrs. Reed is a daughter of John and Mary (Hart) Demphy. Mr. and Mrs. Reed are the parents of the following children: Constance, Dorothy, Robert, Paul, Jerome, and Vincent.
EBENEZER SCOTT-A Scot by ancestral right, as well as a Scott by family inheritance, Ebenezer Scott, of Red Bank, traces descent from William Scott, who was born in Scotland, of Scotch-French ancestry. In 1647, William Scott came to the New World, and later found a home in Shrewsbury, Monmouth county, New Jersey. One branch of the family settled in New Brunswick, Canada, where Tilton Scott was born in the city of St. John, there married, and there his son, Charles W. Scott, was born. When the latter was but a babe, the family came to the United States, and in Monmouth county, New Jersey, Charles W. Scott was indentured to a farmer, Samuel Tilton, with whom he lived until reaching manhood. He was a man of thrift and en- ergy, and inherited a large plantation farm which is now included within the area of West Red Bank. Before becoming permanently engaged in agricul- ture, he was engaged as a clerk in a mercantile business located at the dock, but only for a few years. He owned other property in Red Bank and vicinity, was a Republican in politics, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal church, attending the church at Shrewsbury, in the early days, going by ox team. He was born in 1816 in St. John, Canada, and died seventy-two years later. He married Mary Emeline Covert, and they were the parents of ten children, five deceased, five living, as follows: Eliz- abeth, Mary, Laura, William and Ebenezer, the prin- cipal character of this review.
Ebenezer Scott, son of Charles W. and Mary E. (Covert) Scott, was born on October 19, 1865, and was educated in the public schools. After arriving at man's estate, he engaged in the grocery and dry goods business with James Clayton, continuing with Mr. Clayton until the latter's death. Mr. Scott
then continued the business under the same name until 1900, then embarked in business on his own account and under his own name, and for a few years conducted stands at the Highlands for the sale of novelties and souvenirs. In 1913 he estab- lished his present business, the renting of row boats, canoes and sail boats to pleasure seekers and fishermen who seek recreation on the waters of the Shrewsbury river and Pleasure bay. He has an immense demand to supply in this line during the summer season, and during the winter seeks his own recreation in the South, hunting and fishing, going far into the interior of North Carolina. He is a genuine sportsman, and has a fine collection of trophies of the chase.
Mr. Scott married, in 1892, Elizabeth DeNise, and they are the parents of two children: Lester, now with the Pennsylvania Railroad Bureau of Informa- tion, New York City, married Jennie Peters, of Brooklyn, and they have a son, Lester Scott, Jr .; Eva Claflin, married Joseph Hand, of Arlington, New Jersey, and they have a son, Stanley Hand. The family are attendants of the Protestant Epis- copal church. The family home is in Red Bank.
REV. GERARD CRISTIANI-At Castelgrande in the Province of Potenza, Italy, twenty-one miles northwest of Potenza, the capital of the province, Gerard Cristiani was born on July 19, 1877. He was early dedicated to the service of the church, and was duly ordained a priest of the Roman Cath- olic church after the usual course of educational preparation. In his native Italy the first years of his ministry were spent, but in 1904 he came to the United States, and has since been engaged in pas- toral work in New Jersey parishes, his term of service as pastor of St. Mary of Mount Virgin Church, New Brunswick, covering the greater part of his American pastorate, his present charge the Church of the Holy Trinity.
After completing the courses of study at the dio- cesan seminary of Muro Lucano, Gerard Cristiani finished theological study in church institutions of learning at Salerno, Italy, and in 1901 he was or- dained a priest of the Roman Catholic church by Rt. Rev. Bishop Raphael Capone, C. R. R. Immedi- ately after his ordination, Father Cristiani was called by his bishop to teach in his diocesan semi- nary at Muro Lucano, where he had himself been a student. Soon after that appointment had been made the young priest was called by the Arch- bishop of Matera, Monsignor Rossi, to teach the classics in the seminary at Matera. Both Muro Lucano and Matera are towns in the Province of Potenza, Italy, Matera being forty-three miles east of the city of Potenza, on the Gravina. Father Cristiani remained at the seminary in Matera for one year, then from eminently satisfactory motives came to the United States, arriving in New York, January 25, 1904, leaving Naples, January 6, 1904.
His first pastoral work in the United States was as assistant to the rector of the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Newark, New Jersey.
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it's the sameact of the recier, Father Cristiani was in 1916, and in the field of general contracting
enpeppers in pastoral and ecionion work wonder the trening of Einhey XeFail, hes at his own It- Vize Corral at Ker Branek, New Jersey, sim la reci Everten years, serving bis wirkt with free accessability. The pariet woder Fader Cristiani was greatly erkarzeć in numbers, an in material things there was a constant for- ward nonsen. The frantacion for a new church wa hid during this period, and the basement fir- ** * everywhere there were evidences of a deveted pastor's work.
Finally kis long pastorate ended, and with many regrets Father Cristiani Laid down his old duties chetristiy and hopefully, going to his new field, the parish of Holy Trinity, Long Branch, New Jer- sey, where he asmamed the pastorate, March 29, 1921. In his new feld he is finding warm hearts and generous welcome, his work beginning most favorably. He was successful in paying all the in- debtedness on Trinity Church in a few months, and the church is now clear of all debts.
In New Brunswick, during the World War period, 1917-18, Father Cristiani took an active part in support of all government measures, making many speeches, and aiding with personal work and in- Asence the work of the Red Cross.
HARRY LOUIS CHASEY-In the story of con- struction work along the shore line of Monmouth county the name of Chasey has long been a familiar one, and Harry Louis Chasey is now one of the leading figures in this field of endeavor, with head- quarters at North Long Branch.
Mr. Chasey is a son of John Augustus Chasey, who was one of the first contractors at Monmouth Beach. John A. Chasey originally owned a large amount of land in this vicinity, including the fam- ily homestead, which is still standing. Among other contracts of note which he carried out was the swimming pool, and he also did much work on the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Knights of Pythias, and both he and his wife were very active in church work, doing a generous part in the raising of money for the building of the Asbury Methodist Church. He married Dorothy M. Holman.
Harry Louis Chasey, son of John A. and Dorothy M. (Holman) Chasey, was born at Monmouth Beach, February 1, 1885. The removal of the family to Long Branch brought the boy to this city for his school attendance, and he covered the grades and high school here, then learned the car- penter's trade with R. W. Zimmerman. He re- mained with Mr. Zimmerman after he had master- ed the trade, and was eventually with him for a period of thirteen years. At the end of that time Mr. Chasey started in business for himself. This
Mr. Chasey has since taken a lecoq position, win- Sing L's way to a definite and substantial soccess. He has theas far specialized in residences of which he has buik many, but he does oter work as well, and on L's list of b.3dings is the Morsouth Beach cold storage piant. He keeps abou: sen men con- starty busy.
In various phases of community interest Mr. Chasey is active. He is a worker in the ranks of the Democratic perty, and a member of the execu- Sve committee. He is a mexber of the Junior Order of United American Mechanics, and is past councillor of his lodge, and is a member and trus- tee of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and a member of the Knights of the Golden Eagle. He is a member of the Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church, is a member of the official board, is also on the choir committee, and plays the cornet in the church choir.
Mr. Chasey married Laura E. Delp, daughter of William S. and Alice (Eldridge) Delp. Mr. and Mrs. Chasey are the parents of two children: Harry L. Jr., and Alice E.
WILLIAM RAVATT TAYLOR-Keyport and its vicinity will immediately recognize this name as that of a prosperous farmer and useful citizen. Mr. Taylor is well liked socially, and in a quiet but effective manner is always ready to do his part toward improvement of community conditions.
Reynolds Macajah Taylor, father of William Ravatt Taylor, was born in Middletown, New Jer- sey, and was a sea pilot, sailor and farmer. He married Elizabeth Ravatt, also a native of Middle- town.
William Ravatt Taylor, son of Reynolds Macajah and Elizabeth (Ravatt) Taylor, was born February 15, 1869, in Middletown township, and received his early education in the public schools of Harmony and Keyport, also attending the Keyport High School. After leaving school Mr. Taylor assisted his father in the care of the home farm until the death of Mr. Taylor, Sr. Since that time he has cultivated the land for himself. The estate con- sists of thirty acres, and Mr. Taylor, in his care of it, specializes in fruit and asparagus, with good re- sults.
In politics Mr. Taylor is a Democrat, but takes no active part in public affairs and has never al- lowed himself to be made a candidate for office. He and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Mr. Taylor married, December 24, 1901, in New Brunswick, New Jersey, Elida Smith, born March 17, 1879, at Harmony, New Jersey, daughter of Monroe and Fannie (Hopping) Smith, the former a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are both natives of Harmony. By making the cultivation of his home- stead acres his life-work, Mr. Taylor has earned the success always likely to accrue from patiently sus- tained effort and wise appropriation of results.
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WILLIAM A. WAGNER was born at Fort Plain, New Jersey, April 15, 1864, son of Caleb and Catherine (Hutschart) Wagner, and was educated in the district schools. At an early age began to learn the blacksmith's trade, which occupation has been his life's work, and in addition to the horse- shoeing and wagon repairing he has added, as the demand increased, the repairing of automobiles. Mr. Wagner first engaged in business in Manalapan, New Jersey, then went to Lakewood, where he en- gaged in business for himself, and when he was twenty-six years of age, removed to Long Branch, New Jersey, and there rented a shop, later pur- chasing it, as his business warranted. He conduct- ed two places of business for a time, one in Lake- wood and another in North Long Branch, but dis- posed of the former. Many of the finest show horses owned by private individuals have been brought to him for shoeing because of the con- fidence they had in him, and there is no detail of his business Mr. Wagner does not know.
In politics he is a member of the Democratic party, and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic order, being a member of Long Branch Lodge, No. 78, Free and Accepted Masons. He also is a member of the Masonic Club; Improved Order of Red Men; Junior Order United American Me- chanics; is past councillor of the Knights of Pythias; past chancellor, Knights of the Golden Eagle; past chief of the Daughters of Liberty, and member of the A. O. M. P.
Mr. Wagner married Mary E. Reid, of Manalapan, New Jersey, and their daughters Nellie (Mrs. Cook), and Cora (Mrs. DeWitt), both reside in Long Branch. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal church.
JOSEPH H. RICHMOND-Trained and highly skilled in one of the most practical lines of en- deavor, Joseph H. Richmond, of Long Branch, is still actively engaged at his trade, in the employ of the city, thus bearing a part in the general wel- fare.
Mr. Richmond comes of sturdy old Dutch an- cestry, his great-grandfather, John Richmond, hav- ing come from Holland to the United States, and settled in Blue Ball, now Adelphia, Monmouth county, New Jersey. He had extensive business in- terests for that time, owning grist mills in Red Stone, Washington and Fayette, besides one in Blue Ball, Monmouth county. He was a deeply religious man, and served as a Methodist circuit preacher. He built the first Methodist church in New Jersey, at Blue Ball, and there he preached.
David Richmond, son of John Richmond, and grandfather of Joseph H. Richmond, carried on the grist mill business at Blue Ball, and was also a Methodist preacher. He married Priscilla Patter- son. .
David (2) Richmond, son of David (1) and Pris- cilla (Patterson) Richmond, followed the family traditions so far as his business was concerned, and was a miller throughout his active career. He married Harriett Syckles.
Joseph H. Richmond, son of David (2) and Har- riett (Syckles) Richmond, was born in Marlboro, this county, in the year 1857, and was educated in the public schools in the vicinity of his home. Having completed the regular school course, he learned the trade of blacksmith and wheelwright. For many years he was in business for himself, with excellent success, and became an expert in his line, being one of the foremost men in wagon work in the county. He is now employed by the city of Long Branch, and has charge of the blacksmith repair work for the city.
On June 28, 1886, Mr. Richmond married Leona M. Fields, a graduate of King's School, at Chicago, Illinois, who was a school teacher, and comes of a family of teachers, twenty-one teachers being num- bered in the family during recent generations. Mrs. Richmond is a daughter of Charles and Anna M. (Fisher) Fields. They were formerly residents of Burlington county, New Jersey, but have since lived in Monmouth county, first in Scobeyville, and later in Fair Haven.
Charles Fields enlisted in 1861 at Trenton, New Jersey, in Company B, First Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, for three years. He was sent from Trenton to Washington, D. C. He participated in the first battle of Bull Run, Malvern Hill, battle of Fair Oaks, in the seven days' battle, in the battle of the Wilderness, in the famous battle of Gettys- burg, also many other battles, and was wounded at Mine Run. He had a shell wound over the muscle of left arm, and was in the hospital until recovery. September 14, 1864, at Trenton, New Jersey, he re- enlisted in the 34th New Jersey Infantry, Com- pany C, under General Sherman, and was sent from Trenton to Mayfield, Kentucky; he served until the end of the war, and was honorably discharged at Trenton.
Mr. Fields' grandfather was Clayton Fields, his wife's maiden name was Lippincott; they lived near Juliustown, Burlington county, New Jersey, and were always farmers, and their ancestors lived on Long Island. On his mother's side, his grand- mother's maiden name was Kinney; she married a Mr. Borrough. They came from England and still own property there; his grandmother was one hundred and four years old, and one of the first four members of the Pemberton Baptist Church, and was living at the time of the Civil war.
Mrs. Richmond's family on the Fisher side of the family; grandfather and grandmother Fisher were both born in Monmouth county, near Bergen, now Lakewood, Lower Freehold it was called in those days. Grandmother's maiden name was Mar- tha Lawrence; she came from England and was a descendant of Lady Grace Lawrence, and a near relative of Captain Lawrence, who said "do not give up the ship." They were very wealthy English people and belonged to the nobility. The mother of Mrs. Richmond was the daughter of John and Jennie West, of noble blood, and lived at Squankum; Mrs. Richmond has often visited the old home of Captain Lawrence, which stands on Federal street,
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Burlington. Mr. Fisher and his two brothers came from Lake Ontario to Squankum, and thence to Burlington county, where they acquired a lot of property.
JOHN HENRY FIELDER-Nearly half a cen- tury ago John H. Fielder came to Fair Haven, New Jersey, and there established a carriage painting business, which he conducted until his passing in 1914, building up high reputation as a mere excel- lent workman and upright business man. The shops are still continued under the management of his son, but the carriages have given way to the auto- mobiles, which now furnish the Fielder shops with abundant employment. John H. Fielder was a son of Disbrow and Mary Fielder, of Howell township. Monmouth county, New Jersey, that township hav- ing long been the family home.
John H. Fielder was born at Lower Squankum, Monmouth county, New Jersey, June 23, 1851, and died at Fair Haven, in the same county, in April, 1914. He was educated in the public schools of Marlboro township, and when school days were over, apprenticed himself to a carriage painter in the village of Marlboro, who taught him every fine detail of fine carriage work. He further improved his skill in Freehold shops, then settled in Fair Haven, where for more than forty years he con- tinued a successful business, the quality of the work turned out of the Fielder shops being second to none. He made carriage painting his sole business until the advent of the automobile. He taught his son his art and trade and under his management the shops continue in prosperity.
John H. Fielder was an ardent Republican, but never sought nor held office. He was a member of the Sons of Veterans; a past grand master of Red Bank Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; member of the Royal Arcanum and the Junior Order of United American Mechanics. His re- ligious faith was Episcopalian.
Mr. Fielder married, in Marlboro, November 12, 1872, Laura Etta Ayres, daughter of Joel Wilson and Mary (Holmes) Ayres. To Mr. and Mrs. Fielder four children were born, all in Fair Haven: Mary, died in infancy; Buenos W., born June 12, 1874; Stanley J., born March 27, 1877; Addie, born July 17, 1887, married January 16, 1907, Charles Philip Cross, a fire underwriter of New York.
RUSSELL C. M. SCHADT-Among the repre- sentative business men of Ocean Grove, New Jersey, is Russell C. M. Schadt, who since 1915 has been owner and manager of a sea food market in this community. As a foremost citizen he gives his earnest support to all that makes for civic better- ment.
Dr. Oliver G. J. Schadt, father of Russell C. M. Schadt, was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania, May 23, 1857. He was educated in the schools of his native place, and at the Institute de Ruddy, Paris, France, and has occupied a number of positions as instructor in the various languages. At one time
he was a member of the staff of tutors in a branch of the Russian Imperial family at Petrograd, and later was appointed professor of languages at Alle- gheny College, Meadville, Pennsylvania, subsequent- ly resigning to accept his present appointment to the chair of modern languages at the University of Cumberland, Lebanon, Tennessee. Dr. Schadt is well known in Ocean Grove. He has an extensive professional record, and a number of literary ac- complishments to his credit, having written sev- eral French instruction books and a tabulated Spanish grammar now (1921) in press. He holds membership in the New York City lecture corps of the Board of Education, and of the Empire State Society, Sons American Revolution, of the Metrop- olis. He married, May 1, 1885, Eleanor Miller, at Philadelphia, and to them were born children, among whom was Russell C. M., of further men- tion.
Russell C. M. Schadt was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, February 3, 1889. He obtained his education in Albright College, in Meyerstown, Penn- sylvania, in which latter place he remained three years. Upon completing his schooling he came to Ocean Grove, where he was apointed to member- ship in the life guards, serving at Deal Beach for one year and at Bradley Beach for three years. In 1915, desirous of starting in business on his own account, he opened a sea food market and has continued in this particular line up to the present time, attaining the financial success which is the result of untiring devotion to the work at hand and good business ability. Mr. Schadt has been captain of the Washington Fire Company of Ocean Grove since 1917, and is a member of its board of trustees. He was formerly a member of the local Board of Health. In politics he is a Demo- crat. He affiliates with Asbury Park Lodge, No. 142, Free and Accepted Masons; Goodwin Chapter, No. 36, Royal Arch Masons, of Manasquan; is a charter member of the Monmouth Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution; member of the Tall Cedars of Lebanon, Asbury Park Forest, No. 39; the United States Fisheries Association; and also holds membership in the Kiwanis Club, of As- bury Park, and the Eureka Athletic Club.
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