USA > New Jersey > Monmouth County > History of Monmouth County, New Jersey, 1664-1920, Volume III > Part 51
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In the public life of the community Mr. Johnson is broadly interested, but his limited time will not permit his entering the political field, and his con- victions align with those of the independent Demo- crat.
Mr. Johnson married Henrietta Leighton, of Highlands, New Jersey, and they have one daugh- ter, Lucretia.
JOHN H. DALEY is a self-made man and de- serves all the credit such a man should receive. He was born in Marlboro township, New Jersey, on February 22, 1874, and is the son of John and Brid- get (Collins) Daley. Both of his parents are liv- ing, and are at present residents of Freehold.
Mr. Daley received his education in the public schools of Freehold. After leaving school he went to work as a farmer. At the age of twenty-three he accepted a position at the Stokes File Works, where he spent ten years working in all of the different departments. He might have continued in this field, but the love of the land was deeply rooted in his nature and he finally decided to become a farmer again. He began by renting a farm and working it on shares. In this way he spent five years at Cream Ridge and three years at Hights- town. At the present time he is engaged in work- ing D. E. Stetsin's farm of one hundred and forty acres, which is largely given over to the cultiva- tion of potatoes.
Mr. Daley married Mary A. Tracey, and they are the parents of ten children. Both he and Mrs. Daley are active members of St. Gabriel's Catholic Church.
JOHN H. DRUM was born at Colts Neck, New Jersey, December 24, 1867, a son of David and Ann (Ryan) Drum. His father and his mother were born at Colts Neck, New Jersey. His father was a farmer.
Mr. Drum received his early education in the public schools of Colts Neck and Freehold, New Jersey. After his school days were over, Mr. Drum associated himself with his father in the manage- ment of the family property. He worked on his
father's farm for some years, but in 1896 he ac- quired the property known as John Emmons' Farm and left his father in order to assume control of his new estate. The farm, which he still owns and upon which he has lived ever since he acquired it, consists of sixty acres of land and is devoted to the production of potatoes. Mr. Drum is a mem- ber of the Baptist church, of Freehold. In poli- tics he is a Republican. He is a director of the Englishtown Bank.
Mr. Drum married Sarah Mcknight, at Shrews- bury, New Jersey, July 25, 1891. Mrs. Drum was born at Marlboro township, a daughter of Francis and Mary McKnight. Her father was a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Drum have no children.
REV. DENIS J. DUGGAN-For nearly eight years Father Duggan has been pastor of St. James Roman Catholic Church at Red Bank, New Jersey, his parish including about two thousand souls. He is a son of Cornelius and Mary (Murphy) Duggan, who at the time of the birth of their son, Denis J., were residing in Cork, Ireland.
Denis J. Duggan was born October 14, 1848. He obtained his preparatory education in private schools in his native Cork. Choosing the holy call- ing, he entered Maynooth Theological Seminary, whence he was graduated in 1874, and the same month and year, June, 1874, was ordained to the priesthood of the Roman Catholic church by Bishop McCormack. For seven years thereafter Father Duggan engaged in missionary work in Ireland, then in 1881 came to the United States, being for a time assistant pastor in Trenton and Camden, New Jersey. His first pastorate was at Bridgeton, New Jersey, where he remained two years, going then to Mt. Holly, New Jersey, thence after two years to Salem, New Jersey, where he spent eleven years. From Salem he was appointed to the pastorate of the church at Bordentown, and there he remained seventeen years, terminating in June, 1914, when he came to St. James parish, Red Bank.
Father Duggan for more than four decades has served New Jersey parishes in South and West New Jersey, Red Bank being his first parish out- side those sections. While pastor at Bordentown he organized and served a mission at Florence and there built a church. Since coming to Red Bank, he has remodeled and renovated St. James Church, and now has a beautiful church edifice and a pros- perous parish. The parish school has kept pace with the other departments of the church, and is a valuable addition to the educational system of the city. Father Duggan's work has been similarly blessed in the other parishes he has served, and he has won enduring friendships in all, both within and without his own church.
DIEDRICK BATTJER-Although it is only for the comparatively brief period of fourteen years that Mr. Battjer has been numbered among the farmers of Shrewsbury township, New Jersey, he has long since taken his place as a leading repre-
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sentative of the agricultural interests of his com- munity. He is notably public-spirited, and has been one of the foremost to assist in the work of im- proving neighborhood conditions.
Diedrick Battjer, son of Henry and Matilda (Phil- lips) Battjer, was born November 6, 1870, in New York City, and received his education in the public schools of the metropolis, graduating from the grammar school at the age of fourteen. For twenty year Mr. Battjer was in business in his native city, working along the lines of exporting and import- ing, and there for seven years, he engaged in the trucking business. In 1907 he purchased the farm which has ever since been his home, situated at Wayside, and called the "Wayside Farm." For six years he also conducted the general store, but has since devoted his whole time to general farming, meeting with marked success. His estate is almost a century old and with the lapse of time has in- creased in value two hundred per cent.
In national politics Mr. Battjer is a Republican, but in local elections he votes for the man who he thinks will most efficiently serve the best in- terests of the community. For five years he was a member of the Board of Education, also serving on the building committee responsible for the local school, and it was mainly through his efforts that one of the finest schoolhouses in the county was erected at Wayside. He is president of the Com- munity Club of Wayside, and he and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.
Mr. Battjer married, March 16, 1892, in New York City, Eliza Johnson, daughter of John and Marie (French) Johnson. Mr. Johnson was a machinist, and both he and his wife are now de- ceased. Mr. and Mrs. Battjer became the parents of the following children, all of whom were born in New York City: Henry John, born January 15, 1893; one who died in infancy; Edith Marian, born June 18, 1897; and Joseph French, born January 3, 1900.
Since Mr. Battjer's farm was reclaimed from the wilderness, the entire neighborhood has developed rapidly. Agricultural and financial interests have grown, and schools and churches have been erected. Since Mr. Battjer has been a resident of the town- ship, progress, owing to his influence and efforts, has been greatly accelerated. A community house which is now in process of construction is largely the result of his energy and initiative.
JAMES M. STRUDWICK was born in Lanca- shire, England, October 23, 1875, son of William E. and Alice Strudwick, they also the parents of sons, Samuel, George and William. William E. Strudwick, a carpenter and builder, came to the United States, locating in Asbury Park, New Jer- sey, and there the lad, James M., was educated in the public schools. After school years were over James M. learned the carpenter's trade and became a skilled workman. About 1905 he established a hardware business at Allenhurst, New Jersey, which he conducts in connection with a contracting busi-
ness. He has been successful in business, and is man highly esteemed. He is a Republican in pol tics, and a member of the Methodist Episcop church.
Mr. Strudwick married, at Asbury Park, Ne Jersey, Hattie M. Dodd, daughter of Peter a Annie Dodd, and they are the parents of three chi dren, all born in Asbury Park: Ethel V., died i infancy; Helen Elizabeth, born August 17, 190: Alice Ruth, born February 29, 1908. The famil home is in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
JOHN WILLIAM SMITH is the son of Frei erick Smith, a farmer, born in Germany, who can to the United States and settled in Monmout county, New Jersey, where he married Rebecca Ma ris, who was born in that county.
John William Smith was born in Asbury Pad New Jersey, February 7, 1887, but educated in th public schools of Middletown and Matawan, Ne Jersey. After leaving school the lad worked in & iron foundry at Matawan, and later learned tà blacksmith's trade, which he has since followed
Mr. Smith married, September 29, 1907, Clan Murray, of Keansburg, New Jersey, born in Noven ber, 1888, daughter of James and Anna (Dyer) Murray. Mr. and Mrs. Smith are the parents a six children: 1. James Frederick, born in Middle town, New Jersey, in 1908. 2. John William, bon in Belford, in 1910. 3. Harold Edward, born i Belford, in 1912. 4. Carl Bernard, born in Everett in 1914. 5. Catherine Anna, born in Everett, i 1916. 6. Clarence Theron, born in Everett, in 1911
J. WYLLIS HASSLER, M. D .- A resident a Belmar, New Jersey, for several years, and & honored member of the medical profession, D: Hassler has proved by his work his efficiency in hi particular line, having acquired for himself a larg clientele which has learned that to profession skill he adds a warm sympathy and deep interes in all that relates to their welfare.
Dr. Hassler was born at Allentown, Pennsyl vania, May 20, 1870. He attended the public school of his native place and after exhausting their ad vantages he entered Muhlenburg College, in Aller town, where he was graduated, and won the de gree of Bachelor of Arts in 1889, and subsequent! the degree of Master of Arts. In the meantime having chosen medicine as his profession, he matri culated at Hahnemann Medical College, Philadel phia, and received the degree of Doctor of Medi cine, class of 1892. That same year he establishe himself in private practice in New York City, wher he continued successfully until 1904, when he move to Belmar, where he has since continued practicin during the summer. For many years Dr. Hasske has been spending his winters at St. Petersburg Florida, returning to Belmar in the summer tim and thus serving his patrons, whose confidence h has so successfully won. He devotes himself a most exclusively to the surgical branch of the pre fession, and his professional ability, long recognize
Capt. J. Bartley France
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as of the highest quality, has won him respect of his brethren of the medical fraternity.
In everything pertaining to the welfare and ad- vancement of Belmar, Dr. Hassler has always taken a keen and active interest, his influence in that community being felt personally by the entire body of his fellow-citizens. A Republican in politics, he has served Belmar as a councilman, holding that office in 1919. During the Spanish-American War he enlisted in the United States army and was assigned to the Chickamauga Hospital, where he remained for one year and a half. He affiliates with the Masons, being a member of Barger Lodge, No. 333, of Allentown; the Knights of Pythias; Alpha Tau Omega fraternity of Muhlenburg College, Alpha Iota Chapter; and also is a member of all the leading medical associations.
On September 27, 1904, at Belmar, New Jersey, J. Wyllis Hassler was united in marriage with Miss Osbourne. They reside at No. 315 Fifth avenue, Belmar, New Jersey, in the summer, and as has been previously stated, at St. Petersburg, Florida, in the winter.
CAPTAIN S. BARTLEY PEARCE-There is no follower of motor boat racing who does not have at his tongue's end the races and records of the "Dixie" boats, I, II, and III, in American and English waters, and by these devotees Captain S. Bartley Pearce is numbered among the leading rac- ing skippers of his time. Captain Pearce is known not alone for racing exploits familiar to sportsmen the world over, but as the owner of one of the largest boat-building and repairing yards in Mon- mouth county, and is a familiar figure to the resi- dents of the district and the summer colony who find their vacation places in the North Jersey shore resorts. Traditions of the sea and sailing are a part of his heritage, and his knowledge of boats, of the scientific principles of their construction, and of their sailing, is of vast proportions. His long experience as a builder and captain of boats of all kinds, has given him ability to sail any vessel that floats, and it is upon this wealth of technical knowl- edge that hundreds of owners of boats built by him have drawn when Captain Pearce has designed and built their craft. The intimate story of his career is replete with interesting and often thrilling in- cident, which can be only indicated here, and Mon- mouth county's history contains no more represen- tative name.
Captain Pearce is a son of Captain Shem Pearce, who was master of a sailing vessel all of his life, and who doubled Cape Horn many times, par- ticularly after gold discoveries in California started a line of travel to the west coast. He married Lydia Longstreet; she died at the age of eighty- two years.
S. Bartley Pearce was born in that section of Wall township, Monmouth county, now known as the borough of Brielle, formerly Manasquan, and there attended public schools. After the comple-
tion of his education he became employed as a youth in the shipyards at Manasquan, learned boat build- ing in all of its branches, and has found in this calling his life work. He is a skilled draftsman, and although his yard has grown to a size that places it among the leading establishments of its kind in the county, Captain Pearce is still able to perform any duty in connection therewith. His home on the bank of the Manasquan river is a beautiful residence, notable even among the im- posing structures that great wealth has erected in the district.
In the course of a career as a dealer of vessels of all kinds, designed for a wide variety of pur- poses, Captain Pearce became interested in motor boat racing, and in the annals of this sport has left a record that will long be cited by followers of aquatic sports. In 1907 Captain Pearce, represent- ing Commodore E. J. Schroeder, owner of the racing motor boat "Dixie," and the Motor Boat Club of America, journeyed to England, and at Southamp- ton was skipper of the "Dixie" in the race that brought the British International Cup for motor boats to America. The other contestants were "Daimler I", and "Daimler II". "The Car," an English sporting journal, wrote of this race as fol- lows: "The resulting win for the American boat 'Dixie,' although disappointing, as yet another ad- dition to the long list of reverses sustained by Brit- ish sport this year, was achieved in a struggle of such square and fair nature that it was obvious to everyone that the victory was gained by merit alone." This great trophy, competed for by America in this year for the first time, had been first won by France and then won back by England. While in Great Britain, Captain Pearce was the honored guest of many famous English sportsmen and was entertained by numerous noted personages, being accorded the regard that an Englishman is second to none in yielding to a worthy opponent.
In 1908 Captain Pearce was skipper of "Dixie II", which successfully defended the Harmsworth Trophy in a race on Huntington Bay, Long Island Sound, that "Motor Boat" described as "the great- est motor boat race the world has ever known." In this race "Dixie II" beat "Wolseley-Siddeley", 'U. S. A.", and "Den", "Dixie II" averaging 27.75 nautical, or 32 statute miles per hour. A thrill- ing finish of this race is described in part as fol- lows in "Motor Boat," Vol. V, No. 15:
On came that glorious little boat. Our hearts were in her. Everyone crowded to the stern of the tug to see the finish. There was Pearce at the wheel; we could see the tense outline of his head and shoulders, even in the distance. As she came nearer, she seemed to swerve this way and that, as if reeling under a heavy strain. Mr. Davis and I were at the 'Raymond's' stern on a line with the finish. "Dixie" came careening across, Pearce clutching the wheel with one hand. As he passed, the winner with all that that meant, we saw Pearce shaking Rappuhn desperately. Mr. Davis turned quickly and said, "He's sick or hurt; we must get him.". With one hand on the wheel and the other
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sinewy arm holding and shaking the unconscious Rappuhn, Pearce guided the "Dixie" safely through a row of boats. He could not stop the mad rush until he had her clear. He headed her for the open waters up towards Northport, and about a mile from the "Raymond" he managed to bring her to. By this time we had jumped into the "Astacus" and were off. "Tuna," "Dixie's" tender, was ahead of us, and a fleet of other boats, rushing to the assistance of "Dixie's" crew. When we arrived, "Tuna" had taken the unconscious hero-engineer on board, where he received the attention of a physi- cian. Captain Pearce, unstrung now that his work was done, was helped aboard the "Astacus," and we ran at once to the float. With little assistance Captain Pearce walked to the Casino, not willing to have a show made of his condition, bearing up before the crowd, and even acknowledging the con- gratulations of hundreds. He was weak from the strain and excitement, and sick from the gas from the improvised mufflers, which had completely over- come Rappuhn. A run around the harbor in the "Tuna" revived Rappuhn in short order. He had been overcome by the carbon monoxide gas from the mufflers, and as soon as his lungs filled with the fresh salt air, aided by artificial respiration which was applied by the physician in charge, he recovered almost completely.
When Rappuhn felt himself losing consciousness, just before the turn of the last mark, he instinc- tively opened the throttle to its limit. It was then that we saw "Dixie" jump ahead. For four miles or more Pearce ran that boat and held up the help- less man shaking him and throwing water on his head. For four miles he held "Dixie" on her course, half senseless himself, with one great thought on his mind-to cross the line.
For "Dixie" we have all praise. She is the fastest motor boat in the world, and won the race with her engine turning 750 r.p.m., whereas it is capable of turning her propeller at 950. She is now only of half the power of the "Wolseley" and went into the race with her 200-hp. against the "Wolseley" with 400, and the "Daimler" with 525. Rappuhn, asked why he had kept "Dixie" down, replied, "if we'd let her out, we'd have felt lonesome."
The story is told. No, not all, for the nation owes a tribute to all who were concerned in the splendid boat. Here is the honor roll: E. J. Schroeder, owner; Clinton H. Crane, designer; H. M. Crane and Allen E. Whitman, builders of the engine; Captain S. Bartley Pearce, helmsman; Al- bert Rappuhn, engineer; B. Frank Wood, builder.
Captain Pearce piloted the "Dixie II" in numer- ous other races in eastern waters, and at Hemp- stead Harbor made a world's record of 36.04 miles an hour.
Captain Pearce has long been prominent in pub- lic affairs; for twelve years was treasurer and for sixteen years committeeman of Wall township; also served as clerk of the school board of Brielle at the time when the members of the board were elected by popular vote. He is a member of Asbury Park Lodge, No. 128, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; a charter member of the Manasquan River Yacht Club, a life member of the Ocean City Yacht Club, and a member of the Motor Boat Club of America. He was brought up in the faith of the
Methodist Episcopal Church. His circle of friends is a wide one, made through willing helpfulness in all movements for the common good and through a sincere goodwill that is felt by all who come into contact with him. In connection with his sporting activities it is interesting to note that Captain Pearce erected the first amateur wireless receiving station on the Atlantic coast. He created the first fire department and street lighting system in Brielle, and was its first chief of police; also was the means of Brielle becoming a borough.
Captain Pearce married, in Baltimore, Maryland, July 31, 1884, Eleanor M. Tyson, daughter of Cap- tain James A. and Marie (Farnham) Tyson. Her father was captain of a full rigged sailing ship of the clipper type, sailing from New York to Aus- tralia, and Mrs. Pearce was born on this vessel about sixty miles off the Australian coast. Captain Tyson at one time was away from home for eleven years, although, strictly speaking, his vessel was his home, so long and numerous were his voyages Mrs. Pearce, who has lived in England ,and in Ire- land, has crossed the ocean seventeen times. Captain and Mrs. Pearce are the parents of: James E., born April 24, 1886; Ralph Tyson, born September 16, 1887, inspector of State Bridges, residing at Brielle; Wheaton S., born June 21, 1890, owns and operates a garage in Brielle; Mary M., married Harry H. Kroh, an advertising agent of New York City and Asbury Park.
RAYMOND DILDINE-The surname Dildine is of ancient French origin and figured prominently among the royalists in the early days of France. To escape persecution the people who bore this name fled to Holland from France and later to this country, becoming members subsequently of the William Penn colony in Pennsylvania, and later es- tablishing Sussex county in New Jersey, Sussex county afterward being divided and part of it called Warren county.
William M. Dildine, grandfather of Raymond Dil- dine, was born at Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, in the old homestead, which was located on the grant of land along the Delaware river extending from the Delaware Water Gap to nearly opposite Belvi- dere, New Jersey, which was granted to his ances- tors by William Penn, Dildine's Island, in the Dela- ware river, near Mount Bethel, also being a part of this grant. It is interesting to note here that this William M. Dildine was the originator of cutting garments by actual measurement. He founded an academy to teach this art in New York City, and later travelled throughout the country, establishing garment-cutting schools and becoming widely known as Professor Dildine. In his earlier life he taught the several branches in private schools nec- essary for an education at that time. Among his ancestors mention is here made of Harmon Dildine, first lieutenant of the Sixth Battalion, Second Com- pany, Northampton County, Pennsylvania Militia, and Herman and John Dildine, who served in Cap- tain John Long's company of the same county. He
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married, in 1846, Almira Owen, a descendant of one of the old New Jersey families of that name, and a resident of Belvidere, New Jersey. Their chil- dren were: Albert C., a Civil War veteran, and one of the few survivors of the Fifteenth New Jersey Regiment, and for many years in charge of the registry department at the Camden, New Jersey, post office, now living retired at Camden, New Jer- sey, Victoria, deceased, formerly the wife of Harry Bowers, of Washington, New Jersey; William M., of further mention; Catherine, of Washington, New Jersey; Charles, deceased; Frank, of East Orange, New Jersey, designer for Wanamaker, of New York City; Harrison, a designer of special uniforms, of New York City; Lewis, secretary for Cornish & Company, of Washington, New Jersey, manufac- turers of graphophones and pianos, and the first concern in the United States to sell direct to the public through the mails.
William M. Dildine, son of William M. Dildine, Sr., and father of Raymond Dildine, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After completing his schooling he followed in the footsteps of his father and taught garment cutting, which he continued throughout his entire lifetime, having his home and principal place of business at Belvidere, New Jer- sey. He married Ella Frances Krom, a native of Mount Bethel, Pennsylvania, whose two brothers served through enlistment in the Civil War, and whose ancestors also fought in the War of Revolu- tion. The Dildine and Krom families are both fre- quently named in the archives of the States of New Jersey and Pennsylvania as being prominent, up- right, and honorable citizens and among the early settlers. Mrs. Dildine was a direct descendant of Anneke Kajens, who came to this country from Hol- land, and was one of the settlers of New Amster- dam, now known as New York.
Mr. and Mrs. Dildine were the parents of three children: Raymond, mentioned hereafter; Fred, for- merly a druggist of New York City and now a gen- tleman farmer engaged in the raising of high grade cattle near Bridgeville, New Jersey; and Charles B., of Washington, New Jersey, clerk in charge of the United States Railway Mail Service between New York City and Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania.
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