USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 26
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HON. JAMES BUCHANAN was born at Ringoes, New Jersey, June 17th, 1839. After passing through the common schools of his native town, and the academy at Clinton, New Jersey, he pur- sued a course of law at the Albany Law School. In November, 1864, he was admitted as an attorney-at-law in New Jersey, and settled in Trenton in December of the same year. In June, 1869, he was made counselor-at-law, and in 1876 was admitted as counselor in the United States Supreme Court. Judge Buchanan has held a number of public positions, beginning with Reading Clerk of the New Jersey Legislature, in 1866, and closing with his term as Congressman, from 1885 to 1893. While in Congress he was ever on the side of the people, and guarded well the interests of his constituents. He was a frequent speaker on important bills and motions, and no member of Congress from this district has ever discharged his duties more satisfactorily to the people than did Judge Buchanan. He was a member of the School Board of this city for two years, Judge of the county of Mercer for five years, from 1874 to 1879, and a member of the Common Council in 1883 and 1884. Since coming to Trenton he has been an active member of the Central Baptist Church. Septem- ber 26th, 1863, Judge Buchanan was married to Mary Isabel Bullock, of Flemington, New Jersey, by whom he had one son, Arthur. His wife died some years ago, and, on November 8th, 1887, he was
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married to Irene S. Koones, of Washington, D. C. Judge Buchanan's life in Congress was a busy one ; he was always at his desk during the sessions and knew exactly what was going on. He served on the following committees : Forty-ninth Congress, Labor and Claims ; Fiftieth Congress, Labor and Patents : Fifty-first Congress, Judiciary, Labor, Patents, and was Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures ; Fifty-second Congress, Judiciary, Patents and Labor. He served on the Labor Committee the entire eight years of his service in the House, and a great deal of the labor legisla- tion enacted during that time was a product in whole or in part of his brain. His knowledge and experience in law made him prominent in all investigations made by the House. He was a miem- ber of the Curtin Committee to investigate the Gould railroad strike, in 1885, and was also on the committee to investigate the Standard Oil, Whiskey and Sugar Trusts. Among his most famous speeches were, "The Me Kinley Bill and what it does," "Tariff," "Silver" and "Labor Arbitration," and in favor of "The Eight-Hour Law." His speech on the MeKinley Bill was printed and circu- lated by the hundred thousand copies. Besides all this work in connection with his eight years in Congress, Judge Buchanan did a great deal of outside work for his constituents ; over six thousand pension claims passed through his hands, many of which he had to look up in the Pension Department. Since the expiration of his teri in Congress, Judge Buchanan has resumed his law practice in this city, and has associated with himself Mr. John Rellstab, under the firm name of Buchanan & Rellstab. Their offices are located at 144 East State street.
WILLIAM Y. JOHNSON was born near Blawenburg, Somerset county, New Jersey, April 14th, 1845. He attended the public schools at Blawenburg and at Somerville. During 1851 and 1852 he moved with his father, ex-County Clerk Henry D. Johnson, to Princeton, where he has since resided. He prepared for college at the school known as "Edge Hill," and in 1865 graduated with great credit from the College of New Jersey. He located at Trenton, where he entered the law offices of Hon. John P. Stock- ton, with whom he studied and attained a thorough knowledge of law. He was admitted to the bar of the State of New Jersey in June, 1868, and was made counselor three years later. In 1875 he was admitted as a partner in Mr. Stockton's office, under the firm name of Stockton & Johnson. With the Attorney- General, Mr. Johnson has been interested in some of the most notable causes ever tried in New Jersey. In the Capitol he has the superintendeney of the collection of taxes from miscellaneous corporations, assuming the greater part of the responsibility of the same. He is a Democrat in politics, and takes great interest in his party's welfare.
GEORGE W. MACPHERSON was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1856. He was educated at the WILLIAM Y. JOHNSON. public schools and the Trenton Academy, and later read law with Woodbury D. Holt. In 1878 he was admitted as an attorney-at-law and in 1881 as a counselor-at-law. Mr. Macpherson has made a success of law, and has had an opportunity to devote himself to some extent to other business interests. He was for a long time Secretary of the Trenton Terra Cotta Company, and is now one of the Directors of the Trenton Fire Clay and Porcelain Company, which has succeeded the Trenton Terra Cotta Company. He is a strong Republican and takes a very active interest in the political life of the city. He belongs to the Young Men's Republican Club and is a member of the City Republican Executive Committee. For several years he was a member of the School Board, was Secretary of that body two years and President one year. He has been a member of Common Council since 1890, and is now serving as Chairman of the Finance Committee. He is a Steward in the State Street M. E. Church and for several years was Superintendent of the Sabbath-school connected with that church. In 1882 he married Emma D. Bleu, of Bridgeton, New Jersey. They have six children.
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ALFRED REED, Vice Chancellor of the State of New Jersey, was born in Ewing township, near Trenton, New Jersey, December 23d, 1839. His education was thorough and of wide range, and was obtained at Lawrenceville Classical and Commercial High School, New Jersey Model School, Rutgers College, and, lastly, at the Law School at Poughkeepsie, New York. He studied law with Hon. Lewis Parker, working hard and late to equip him for a successful career in the domain of the disciples of Blackstone. He was admitted to the New York bar in 1862, and practiced in New York City for some years. In 1864, in June, he was made attorney, and in November of the following year, counselor in New Jersey. He was elected a member of the Common Council of the city of Trenton in 1866, and was made President of that body in 1867. In 1869, he received further honors at the hands of Trentonians, when he was elected Mayor. This office he held one year, declining any further nomination. Judge. Reed was the first Law Judge ever appointed for Mercer county, and he acted in that capacity five years. April 8th, 1875, Governor Bedle appointed him Judge of the First district, Supreme Court of the State of New Jersey, comprising the counties of Atlantic, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem. He has never failed of re-appointment by any of the Governors that have succeeded to the gubernatorial chair since Governor Bedle. On June 4th, 1895, he was appointed Vice Chancellor to succeed the late ex-Governor Green. No fairer Judge sits on the bench than Judge Reed, and he wins the respect of all with whom he is brought in contact. In August, 1877, he married Rose Alba Souder, of Trenton, and has two children-Edith Hepburn and Alfred Don. Judge Reed still lives on the property which has been in the Reed family since 1700.
HUGH H. HAMILL was born at Lawrenceville, Mercer county, New Jersey, in 1851. He is the son of Rev. Samuel M. Hamill, D. D., who was for so many years the capable and popular President of the Lawrenceville Classical and Commercial High School. Mr. Hamill received his preparation under his father's instruction and entered Princeton College, graduating therefrom in 1871. After his college course was finished, he commenced the study of law with his cousin, Hon. Caleb S. Green, of Trenton. In 1877 he was admitted to the bar as an attorney-at-law, and in 1888 as counselor. He devoted his attention to his law practice in this city until about 1890, when he became President of the Trenton Trust and Safe Deposit Company and the Real Estate Title Company. For two years past he has also been President of the New Jersey Building Loan and Investment Company. All of these companies were organized very largely through Mr. Hamill's efforts, and he has been their acting head ever since their inception. His time is now so fully occupied by these duties that he is able to devote himself very little to law. He is fully acquainted with the banking business, and is perfectly familiar with real estate values in the city and State. Besides this, he is a man of the strictest integrity, and has the respect and confidence of all whose HUGH H. HAMILL. pleasure it is to know him. In 1879 Mr. Hamill married Elizabeth Drinker, daughter of the late Hon. Barker Gummere, of this city. They have three children living-Barker, Hugh and Matilda. Mr. Hamill and his estimable wife are always interested in the success of any charitable enterprise undertaken by the citizens of Trenton. He was one of the committee through whose instrumentality the Battle Monument was secured for Trenton and dedicated with such impressive ceremonies.
WILLIAM S. GUMMERE was born in Trenton, New Jersey, June 24th, 1850. His early educa- tion was obtained at the Trenton Academy, whence he went to the old Lawrenceville School to prepare for college. Entering Princeton, he was faithful to his studies and graduated with the Class of '70. He then entered the office of A. G. Richey, Esquire, to study law, continuing for one year, when he entered his father's office, and was admitted to the bar in June, 1873. From his admission he practiced law in this city until 1875, when he removed to Newark and formed a copartnership with Joel Parker, who was then Attorney-General of the State, remaining with him until 1880, at
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which time Mr. Parker was made Justice of the Supreme Court. He continued his practice alone until 1883, when he formed a partnership with Oscar Keen, who was Prosecutor of Essex county. They continued together until 1889, when Mr. Gummere was appointed counsel for the Pennsyl- vania Railroad Company, for New Jersey, to succeed his brother-in-law, Edward T. Green, who was appointed United States District Judge. Our subject was then compelled to return to Trenton, where he has since remained. Mr. Gummere assisted the Attorney-General in winning for the State a signal victory by compelling the Morris and Essex Railroad Company to disgorge over $200,000, whereby the State was enriched to that amount. His career as a lawyer has been wonderfully success- ful, owing to his thorough knowledge of the law and the careful manner in which he conducts his cases. On February 19th, 1895, Governor Werts appointed Mr. Gummere to fill the seat on the Supreme Court bench made vacant by the death of Judge Abbett. The honor thus bestowed on Mr. Gummere is well earned and deserved, and received favorable comment from the bar in general. Mr. Gummere is a son of the late Barker Gummere and brother of the County Clerk of Mercer county, Barker Gummere, Jr. In 1876 he was married to Fanny, daughter of Chief Justice Beasley.
WOODBURY HOLT APGAR was born at Annandale, Hunterdon county, May 18th, 1861. During the years of 1877 and 1878 he attended the State Normal School, at Trenton, and the next three years he was clerk in a store at Reaville, New Jersey. After reading law for one year with Hon. John N. Voorhees, of Flemington, New Jersey, he came to Trenton as a law student, and in 1881 entered the office of the firm of Holt, Macpherson & Holt. While studying he also taught night school, besides representing different newspapers during the New Jersey legislative session. In the June Term of 1884 he was admitted as an attorney-at-law, and immediately began practice in Trenton, where he has since followed his profession. In 1885, Prosecutor Stockton appointed Mr. Apgar Assistant Prosecutor of the Pleas of Mercer county. He held that position until May 25th, 1894, when he was legislated out of office. The need of the position was admitted, and Mr. Apgar's ability in fill- ing the office never questioned. He has been engaged in the prosecution of five murderers.
When Mr. Howell C. Stull resigned from the Park Commission, Mayor Bechtel appointed Mr. Apgar to fill the vacancy. The Board immediately chose him as President of that commission, in which capacity he WOODBURY HOLT APGAR. served two years, and is still a member of the commis- sion. In October, 1892, he was the Democratic candi- date for State Senator in Mercer county, but was defeated, as the county has a normal Republican majority. At that time he was only one year over the required constitutional age. On the tenth of September, 1884, Mr. Apgar was married to Rettie R., daughter of Asher Higgins, Esquire, a well-to-do retired farmer, of Three Bridges, New Jersey.
EDWARD W. EVANS was born in Trenton, New Jersey, October 9th, 1837. He prepared for college at the Trenton Academy, and was graduated from Princeton College in 1860. He then read law with the late James Wilson, and became an attorney-at-law in 1863, and counselor in 1866. A number of years ago he was solicitor for the Board of Freeholders for four years. Two years he was a member of the Common Council, and during that time served on the Finance Committee. In 1863, he was married to Mary H. Cheeseman, of New Brunswick, New Jersey. His elder son, Edward W., Jr., was a student in Princeton College, and his younger son, Samuel, is pursuing his studies in the New Jersey State Model School. He resides at 172 West State street, and occupies an office at 144 East State street. Mr. Evans comes from one of the oldest and most respected families in Trenton, and is himself held in the highest esteem by all who know him. His paternal ancestors came originally from Wales, about two hundred years ago. There were three brothers who emigrated to this country, one of whom
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settled near Geneva, New York, another near Norristown, Pennsylvania, and the third somewhere in the South. Evan Evans, who settled in Pennsylvania, afterward moved to Trenton, and his son, the grandfather of our subject, conducted a store on the Whittaker property, opposite the Court House. Mr. E. W. Evans' father, Samuel Evans, was for many years one of the leading citizens of Trenton. He was Justice of the Peace for fifty-seven years, and was Judge of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas of Hunterdon county before Mercer county was formed. He was also City Treasurer for many years, and was Engrossing Clerk for both Houses of the Legislature for a long time. About thirteen years ago he died at the extreme old age of eighty-nine years. Five generations of the Evans family have been most worthy citizens of Trenton.
D. COOPER ALLINSON was born in Burlington county, near Burlington city, New Jersey, on April 27th, 1829. His father, David Allinson, a printer and book publisher at Burlington, was the author of many valuable books. He edited and published a number of literary periodicals, among which was the "Rural Visitor," and was a man of unusual mark in a literary linc. He was the author of two dictionaries, one a large one and found in many libraries at this day, and known as "Allinson's English and Classical Dictionary." The classical and chronological departments of this dictionary are, at this time, very valuable. He also published many valuable law books, among which were Coxe's New Jersey Supreme Court Reports, pub- lished in 1816 (being the first published report of the New Jersey Supreme Court ), the "United States Law Register," "Allinson's Scriveners' Guide," &c. D. Cooper Allinson's grandfather was Samuel Allinson, a lawyer, of New Jersey, who held numerous prominent State offices, from 1761, and also compiled the Assembly laws of the State from the surrender of the gov- ernment to Queen Anne, in 1702, to 1776, a valuable compilation and known as "Allin- son's Edition." His grandson. the subject of this sketch, has now (1895) in his law library, at Trenton, the identical office copy of these laws which the compiler had in his library at the time of his decease, which occurred in 1791. The subject of this sketch was placed in the Quaker school in Burlington, New Jersey, and was after- ward sent to Williston Seminary, at East D. COOPER ALLINSON. Hampton, Massachusetts. He next took a course in Amenia Seminary, New York, where he was prepared for Yale College, but his health breaking down, he was obliged to give up his studies and travel to recuperate his health. During the years he attended school in Burlington he spent a part of the time in learning the drug and apothecary business, and also in studying medicine, the latter study he continuing to prosecute after going to New England. In the fall of 1857, his health being fully restored, he entered the law office of Col. Egbert H. Grandin, at Trenton, who was then Prosecuting Attorney for Mercer county. Col. Grandin going to Europe with his family, to remain several years, Mr. Allinson finished his law-reading with Edward T. Green, now Judge of the United States Courts at Trenton. Mr. Allinson was admitted to practice law in February, 1863, and immediately commenced the practice of his profession in Trenton, where he has continued in active practice to the present time. During the late Civil war, both his brothers being in the front, he was particularly active in crushing out the covert sympathy of the rebellious element in the rear, and because of his fearlessness in exposing those who were
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"stabbing our soldiers in the back, " as he put it, he was repeatedly attacked by this disloyal element in Trenton, and in every instance the assailant was severely punished for his disloyal temerity. He did much, in those exciting times, to encourage the timid and keep the bad element in awe, in Trenton, when there existed very grave symptoms of trouble. His bold aggressiveness, at that time, showed him to be one who did not know what fear was. During the war the United States Sanitary Commission selected Mr. Allinson as their attorney to prosecute their immense work in collecting, for the soldiers and their families, the United States pensions, back pay, &e., due them, all of which he did gratuitously, so loyal was he. In the practice of his profession he has always been an aggressive man. Being of strong convictions, he knew no fear when he believed he had right on his side. He always held, when right fear no man, when wrong fear erery man. At one time Trenton was overrun with unprincipled quack doctors, who, by their startling adver- tisements published in our leading newspapers, proclaimed themselves to be able to cure about every known disease. They succeeded in robbing many poor people, and often doing serious injury to the health of their victims. Mr. Allinson's attention being called to these pro- fessional swindlers, he quietly investigated the antecedents of these mountebanks and discoy- ered that some of them had never graduated from any medical college and were using bogus medical diplomas. He at once, single-handed, commenced a raid upon them, and kept it up for years, bringing civil and criminal suits against them, finally ridding the city of their nefarious business. In the practice of his profession, Mr. Allinson developed marvelous abilities as a detective in the criminal branch of his business. A notable case, which occurred in 1880, is worthy of notice here. A man, who had married a daughter of one of the lead- ing merchants of Trenton, committed a large robbery in that city, and Mr. Allinson was employed to unravel the mystery. He worked on the case by a unique method, known only to himself, and soon had the robber located in Canada, where, under the guise of a single man, he had captivated and seduced a highly-educated young heiress of the Province of Quebec. Mr. Allinson at once went to Canada to collect the necessary evidence upon which to obtain, in the New Jersey Court of Chancery, a divorce for the deserted and wronged wife, who was living in Trenton. He succeeded in getting the proofs needed and was about to leave Montreal for Trenton when he called upon the High Constable of the Province of Quebec, the head of the entire police force of Lower Canada, who resided in Montreal, and said to him (we now give Mr. A.'s language) : "Chief, I have got my evidence against this villain, which will enable me to get his wife divorced, &c., and am ready to start for home, and as you have been trying to catch this fellow for over three weeks for the abduction of the heiress here, and I being satisfied your officers are not equal to the task of apprehending the smart rascals we produce in 'the States,' I propose to show you I can drive him to Trenton, or put him in your hands, inside of forty-eight hours, if you will put under my control fire of the best detectives you have in Montreal, and, failing to do so, I will pay all expenses, otherwise you to pay the same. To this the Chief readily assented and the detectives were sent out by me that evening, and before noon next day the fugitive from Trenton was rushing in hot haste for Trenton, where he was led to believe no evidence could be produced to fasten the robbery on him. I at once started for Trenton, keeping advised by telegraph of his progress so accurately that I telegraphed at midnight, at White River Junction, Vermont, to Captain Charles P. Brown, Chief of Police at Trenton, that the fugitive would reach Trenton next day about 10:30 A. M., and he did so arrive. I reached home at 3 p. M. same day, and was chagrined to find he was not caught in the trap which I had so carefully set for him. In two days I was on his track again, tracing him to Philadelphia, to Brooklyn, to Boston and missed him in this latter place by just ten minutes. In twenty-four hours I had him located in Montreal, I being still in Boston. I telegraphed to the High Constable at Montreal, informing him that the fugitive was again in his city, giving him the rery hotel in which he was, and though this official, with one of his detectives, went to said hotel frequently, for four days, yet they failed to identify hin, so well was he disguised, and that official declaring to me several times by telegraph that I was mistaken, that the fellow 'was not in Montreal.' I then took a train for Montreal, and in less than one hour after my arrival in the latter city I had this smartest criminal I ever saw under lock and key, in charge of High Constable Bissonnette, of Montreal." This wonderful per- formance was the subject of lengthly and minute accounts in the Canadian, New York, Trenton and other papers of the day. This one account of his detective work, which is well authenticated, fully warrants our statement above, that Mr. Allinson possesses marvelous detective abilities.
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SYMMES B. HUTCHINSON was born in Hamilton township, near Trenton, September 2d, 1851. He belongs to the large and influential family of Hutchinsons whose wealth and energy have aided in developing the material and intellectual growth of Burlington and Mercer counties. His great- grandfather, George Anderson, was a Captain in the Revolutionary war, and, later on, in 1798, 1799, 1800 and in 1806, held the office of Vice President of the New Jersey State Council. Symmes B. Hutchinson's father was George A. Hutchinson, a wealthy plantation-owner of Hamilton. The elder Hutchinson died in 1885, and when living, was very prominent in public affairs of that locality, being a member of the Township Committee and Chairman of the Board of Education for several years. The first school erected in Chambersburg was built by George A. Hutchinson in 1857, and is now known as the Franklin, or Eleventh Ward School. The Hutchinson family have, not only in this, but on collateral lines, given New Jersey some of her ablest men.
Symmes Hutchinson was educated at the schools of Hamilton township, whence he went to the State Normal Sehool, graduating in 1868. From that institution he was engaged in teaching school until 1872. He then entered Princeton College and completed his studies cum laude, in 1875, also reeciving a medal for being the best general athlete of that institution. Soon after graduat- ing he entered the law office of Hon. Edward T. Green, of Trenton. For one year he taught in the High School of Reading, Pennsylvania. February Term, 1879, he was admitted as an attorney-at-law. Soon after his admission he was elected Solicitor for Hamilton township, and in that capacity served six years. During the years 1886 and 1887 he was in the New Jersey Legislature for the First district of Mercer county. In that time he made an excellent record for himself and his party, serving as chairman of several important eom- mittees. He was one of the managers of the famous Patrick H. Laverty impeachment trial, which lasted seven weeks. In 1887 he was appointed County Solicitor and held that office for five years. During his first term he took an active interest in the building of the Cham- bers street bridge over the Assanpink creek and the tracks of the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany, the construction of which led to the rapid growth and development of what is now the borough of Wilbur. In 1892, he was SYMMES B. HUTCHINSON. deeply interested in the formation of that borough, and when this object was attained he was elected as Solicitor, serving two years. At present Mr. Hutchinson is again County Solicitor. He is also President of the Board of Education of Hamilton township, recently organized, and Treasurer of the Homedell Land Association. The land controlled by this association, which fronts on Chambers street beyond Liberty street, was for four generations in the possession of his family, and embraced one hundred and twenty-five acres. It is now improved by fifty houses and sustains a population of two hundred and fifty. In con- nection with these duties he also conducts an extensive law practice. On June 14th, 1893, Mr. Hutchinson was united in marriage with Elizabeth Street, of Milford, Connecticut. Mrs. Hutchin- son is a granddaughter of Dr. Hull Allen, who for the past fifty years has been a member of the Connecticut State Medical Society, and although he is now in his ninety-seventh year is still engaged in the practice of medicine.
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