USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 51
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He was educated at the Mount Holly Institute and Pemberton Seminary, and studied law with Evan Merritt, of Mount Holly ; Garret S. Cannon, of Bordentown, and Chief Justice Edward N. Paxson, of Pennsylvania. In 1872 he received from the Albany (N. Y.) Law School the degree of LL. B. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in Novem- ber, 1873, and as a counselor in November, 1876.
He was appointed Journal Clerk of the New Jersey Assembly in 1873 and 1874. He was appointed by Governor George B. Mc- Clellan Judge of the First District Court of Newark, which position he held from 1878 to 1886, being re-appointed by Governor George C. Ludlow, and resigning in the third year of his second term. Judge Fort is an ardent Republican, and was a member of the Republican National Conventions in 1884 and 1896.
In the latter year he had the distinction of placing Garret A. Hobart in nomination for the Vice Presidency. He was a member of the State Constitutional Commission of 1894 and of December 1st, 1896. He has practiced his profession in Newark, New Jersey, since 1874.
FRANKLIN MURPHY is a native of New Jersey, and was born in the city of Newark, January 3d, 1846. For many years he has JOHN FRANKLIN FORT. been a conspicuous figure in the social, in- dustrial and political affairs of Essex county. Always alive to the best interests of his city and county, he has freely given of his valuable time and generously contributed from his vast wealth. He responded to the "Call for Arms" by enlisting in the Thirteenth New Jersey Volunteers as a private, and served three years in his country's service, returning with rank of First Lieutenant. He is the founder of the Murphy Varnish Company, of which he is President. This concern is one of the most extensive of its kind in this country, and has a world-wide reputation.
Mr. Murphy served as a member of the Board of Aldermen, representing the Third Ward, Newark, in 1883-4, and was re-elected to the same office in 1885. In 1884 he was elected to the New Jersey House of Assembly by a vote of 2,068, and served on the Committee on Municipal Corporations. IIe is a Director in the Manufacturers' Bank and the Newark Board of Trade, and is a member of the Union League, Down-Town, N. Y .; South Side, L. I .; Essex, Newark ; Essex County and Union League, Chicago, Clubs. His services to the Republican party have been long recognized, and his name is prominently mentioned for the highest offices within the gift of his party.
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GEORGE WILLIAM WRAY PORTER was born in Phoenixville, Chester county, Pennsylvania, December 22d, 1862. He is a graduate of the State Model School, Trenton, of the Class of '81, and a graduate of Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, of the Class of '85. He began the study of law in the office of McCarter, Williamson & McCarter, Newark, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney-at-law in June, 1SS8, and as counselor-at-law in June, 1891, and holds a high place among the many legal lights of Newark, where he resides. He was clected to the New Jersey Assembly in 1896, by a plurality of nearly 22,000, the largest plurality given for the Assembly in Essex county at that election, and re-elected the year following. He proved himself an able defender of the rights of his county and an eloquent pleader in behalf of the many measures of which he was the introducer or their champion. He possesses a powerful voice, and its resonant tones invariably attracted and held the attention of the House. At the graduating exercises of the State Model School he was Latin Salutatorian, and the Pre- sentation oration at the Class-Day Exercises at Lafayette College was delivered by him. In 1891 he married Mary Guild, daugh- ter of William B. Guild, the well-known lawyer of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Porter is a GEORGE W. W. PORTER. member of the Triton Club, and is one of its Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Republican Club and one of its Board of Governors. He is President of Essex County League of Republican Clubs, and prominent in the Freling- huysen Lancers. On February 1st, 1892, he was appointed Assistant City Counsel under Joseph Coult, City Counsel.
JACOB RAU, JR., was born in Newark, Essex county. September 4th, 1856. He obtained an excellent education at the public schools and the German schools of his native city. He chose the plumbing business for a profession, rapidly mastering its details until he entered the first ranks of the plumbing contractors of Newark. Mr. Rau's marriage to Lena Wolf, the daughter of Godfried Wolf, one of Newark's old set- tlers and a retired merchant, forms part of a very interest- JACOB RAU, JR. ing sequence of events. The Rev. Dr. Guenther, pastor of the First German Presbyterian Church, of which both Mr. Rau and his wife are members, baptized them in their infancy, joined them in the bonds of matrimony, and has successively administered the baptismal rites to their five children, three boys and two girls. The same minister married the father and mother of Mr. Rau and subse- quently officiated at their funerals. Mr. Rau is an ardent Republican. He is a member of the County Committee and of the Republican Indian League, and belongs also to a number of social clubs and singing societies. Mr. Rau is one of the repre- sentatives of Essex county to the New Jersey Assembly, having been a successful candidate for that office in the election of 1896, and re-elected the year following.
ALBERT J. SIMPSON. ALBERT J. SIMPSON was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, April 21st, 1862. He removed to Newark, New Jersey, at the age of five years, and received his education in the public schools of that city. Early in life he was apprenticed to the plumbing trade, and shortly after attaining his majority he began business
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for himself as a plumbing and steam-heating engineer at his present location, 221 and 223 Clinton avenue, Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Simpson is a potent factor in the politics of his county. He was elected a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1892-94, and has been twice a member of the House of Assembly. In the election of 1896 he was returned to the Legislature by a plurality of 22,269 votes over the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. He served upon several important committees, and ably represented his constituents. Mr. Simpson is unmarried, and is an active member of many clubs and societies. Among them are the Garfield Republican Club, Griggs Republican Club, Indian League, St. John's Lodge, No. 1, F. and A. M .; Union Chapter, No. 7; Damascus Commandery, No. 5, and the Mystic Shrine, New York.
CARL VALENTINE BAUMANN was born in Germany, Novem- ber 21st, 1853. He attended the schools of his native town until the age of thirteen years, when he came to America and located with his parents in the city of Newark, New Jer- sey, which has since been his home. He adopted the trade of plumber for his profession, and now conducts a profitable business in his adopted city. Since his arrival in this country he made a trip to Kansas, but his stay in that State was not prolonged. At the end of two years he returned and resumed CARL V. BAUMANN. his residence and business at Newark. Mr. Baumann has long been prominent in politics in Newark, but, while taking an active interest, had never held public office until elected to the Assembly of 1897. He was elected by a plurality of 21,400 votes over Nicoll, the highest Democratic candidate. He served on the Committee on Game and Fisheries and Ways and Means. He was re- elected to the 1898 Assembly and served as Chairman of Committee on Stationery, and as member of Committees on Incidental Expenses and Game and Fisheries. For the past twenty- two years he has been an active member of Granite Lodge, Knights of Pythias ; is Past Grand of Herman Lodge, No. 142, I. O. O. F .; and of Newark Encampment, I. O. O. F., and a member of all the leading singing societies.
JAMES A. CHRISTIE was born in Newark, New Jersey, October Sth, 1850. He is the son of the late James A. Christie, the contractor, who settled in Newark many years ago. Young James was educated in Newark's public schools, and adopted his father's business, to which he has long since added that of contractor-in-general, and is now a member of the well-known firm of Headley & Christie, of Newark, New Jersey. Mr. Christie was connected with the Newark police force for a period of eleven years, seven of which he was detailed at the Pennsylvania Railroad depot, Market street. His entering the political field was purely accidental. Attending a primary meeting, he was drawn into the arena and was nominated for the Assembly and JAMES A. CHRISTIE. successfully elected in 1887. He again ran for the same office in 1894 and was returned with a large majority. The same result followed his candidacy in 1895, making three terms in the House of Assembly. He was a member of the Board of Aldermen for four years and held the office of U. S. Government Inspector of the Custom House Building at Newark, New Jersey, for three years. Mr. Christie is a member of Henry Clay Lodge, No. 45, K. of P .; Eureka, No. 36, F. and A. M., and Newark, No. 21, B. and P. O. E.
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JOSEPH B. Jonssox was born in Newark, New Jersey, August 12th, 1867. He was educated in the public schools of that city and, after graduating therefrom, was engaged in commercial pursuits in New York City for several years. Manifesting a decided predilection towards jurisprudence, he began the study of law in his native city, where he has since practiced his profession. He was admitted to the bar as an attorney at the February term of 1896. For a number of years he was associated with Frederick G. Burnham, New Jersey Counsel of the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York. In July of 1896 he formed a co-partnership with George E. Clymer, of East Orange, New Jersey, under the firm name of Clymer & Johnson, with offices at No. 741 Broad street, Newark. The firm has an extensive practice and ranks among the leading lawyers of that city. Mr. Johnson received the Republican nomination for the New Jersey Assembly in the fall of 1897, and was elected by a plurality of 6,167 votes over the highest Democratic candidate. He is a prominent member of the Republican Club, the West End Club, the Seventh Ward Repub- lican Club and the Newark Sketch Club. He is also a member of the Royal Arcanum.
JOSEPH B. JOHNSON. GEORGE BURNETT HARRISON was born in Caldwell, New Jersey, November 18th, 1843. He received a good common school education, and was preparing for college when the late war broke out. He has been actively engaged in business since 1862. For fifteen years he managed a stage line between Cald- well and Montclair. Embarking in the feed business, he suc- cessfully ran a mill in Montclair, and still does a large wholesale grain business from that city. In 1886 he was admitted as a member of the New York Produce Exchange, and of the Chi- cago Board of Trade in 1893. He is now President of the Montelair and Bloomfield Telephone Company. His legislative career began with his election to the New Jersey House of As- sembly in 1883, to which office he was re-elected the year fol- lowing. He made an able representative, and was again his party's (Republican) choice for Assembly in 1896. He was elected by a plurality of 21,491 votes over Nicoll, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. During his terms of office he served as Chairman GEORGE B. HARRISON. of the Committee on Ripa- rian Rights, and as member of the Committees on Miscellaneous Business, Soldiers' Home, Incidental Expenses, Claims and Rev- olutionary Pensions and Unfinished Business. Mr. Harrison is a prominent member and Trustee of the Caldwell Presbyterian Church, of which he was for five years Treasurer. He still resides in his native town of Caldwell.
EDWARD LIVINGSTON PRICE, the present city or corporation counsel of Newark, New Jersey, was born December 25th, 1844. He is a son of Judge Francis Price and Maria L. Hart, both of whom were of Revolutionary ancestry. He received his educa- tion at the private schools of Princeton, Trenton and Freehold, and prepared for college at the private school of the late Rev. John COL. E. L. PRICE. F. Pingry, in Newark. The prospect of a collegiate course was prevented by the breaking out of the Rebellion, and, in April, 1861, he entered his country's service, and served for a period of three years and ten months. Return- ing, he began the study of law, in Newark, with Joseph P. Bradley, late Justice of the United States
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Supreme Court, and was admitted to the bar in the June term, 1866. He was subsequently admitted as counselor and to the United States Supreme, Circuit and District Courts. Colonel Price has made a special study of municipal law, and has been counsel for the municipalities of Harrison, West Orange, South Orange and Milbourne townships ; also the old Newark Aqueduct Board, and was counsel for three years of the Board of Street and Water Commissioners. He was the first counsel of this latter board, and drew the law creating it. He is a Democrat in politics, and for some years past has been an active leader of the official party organization of his party in Essex county and the State. For a number of years he was Chairman of the Essex County Democratic Com- mittee. He was appointed by Mayor James M. Seymour City Counsel for a term, commencing May 26th, 1896.
EDWARD WOOLSEY JACKSON was born in Belleville, Essex county, New Jersey, October 13th, 1861. He is the son of William and Elizabeth Brinkerhoff Jackson, and grandson of Peter Jackson, of Acquackanonk (now the city of Passaic), New Jersey. He began his studies at Geneva, Switzerland, and com- pleted his education at Heidelberg, Germany. Upon his return to Belleville he was elected Treasurer of the Borough Commis- sion of that town. He was elected to the New Jersey Assembly of 1890 by a plurality of 1,719 votes over Mitchell, his highest Democratic opponent, representing what is known as the " Rain- bow " of the Eleventh Assembly District of Essex county. He was returned to the next 'session from the same district by a EDWARD W. JACKSON. majority of 960 votes. He served on the Committees on Fish- eries, Passed Bills, Commerce and Navigation and Incidental Expenses. While in the Legislature he voted against the State Police bill, the Race-track bill, the Amendments to the Constitution pro- viding for special legislation, which was subsequently defeated at the special election in September of 1896. In 1893 he was appointed by Governor Werts one of the members of the County Board of Elections. He was a member of the Essex County Grand Jury of 1894 and served as foreman of the April term. On its adjournment he was appointed one of the five Essex County Park Commissioners. In November of 1894 he received the Republican nomination for Surrogate of Essex county, and was elected by nearly 12,000 majority. Mr. Jack- son is a Director in the Merchants' Insurance Company of Newark, New Jersey ; is President of the Smith & Lennett Company, a member of the Essex Club and a number of other social and political organizations.
FRANCIS N. MANDEVILLE.
FRANCIS N. MANDEVILLE was born in New York City August 14th, 1855. He attended the public schools of Passaic, New Jersey, until 1867, when he removed to Newark, New Jersey. He worked at the trade of stair building for five years, discon- tinuing it to engage in the news and stationery business at present location at the corner of Belleville and Fourth avenues. For the past twenty years Mr. Mandeville has been a prominent figure in politics in his city, but he never took office until 1894, when he was elected a member of Newark Board of Chosen
Freeholders. He was re-elected for a second term in 1896, which he is now filling. During this period the board has made an addition to the County Hospital for the Insane at Verona, erected a new wing to the county prison at Newark and has in contempla- tion a new Court House for Essex county when a suitable site can be secured. Mr. Mandeville was married in 1883 to Elizabeth Wright, daughter of Joseph Wright, one of the veteran Republicans of the Sixth ward. He is a member of the Northern Republican Club and First Ward Republican Club, and has a bright political future before him. Mr. Mandeville belongs to many social and fraternal clubs. He is an Odd Fellow and a K. of P., holding offices in cach.
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JAMES J. HOGAN was born in Newark, New Jersey, February 18th, 1870. He was educated at the public schools and, after graduating, took a course at the New Jersey Business College. During his entire business career he has been engaged as a wholesale provision dealer in New York City. Ile has openly and ardently espoused the Republican cause since early manhood and has played an important part in the politics of his ward. He was nominated for the 1896 Assembly and was elected by a plurality of 5,664 votes over Mr. Seymour, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. He was appointed Chairman of the Com- mittee on Ways and Means and served on the Committees on Commerce and Navigation and State Hospitals. He played a conspicuous part in his advocacy of the Anti-Coal Com- bine bill, which passed the House, and in supporting the bills in the interest of the firemen and railroad employes. He was re-elected to the Assembly of 1897 by a plurality of 21,393 votes over Nicoll, the highest opposing candidate, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Engrossed Bills and on the Committee on Stationery. Mr. Hogan is a member of the Advisory Committee of the Executive Committee of the Sixth Ward, and belongs to the U. S. Grant and Seventh Ward Repub- lican Clubs, both strong political organizations of Newark, New Jersey. He is a charter member of the West End Club, and is also a member of Kane Lodge, No. 55, F. & A. M., and Union Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M.
JAMES J. HOGAN.
DR. JOSEPH SANFORD VINSON was born in Newark, New Jersey, December 11th, 1863. He was educated at the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years entered the office of Dr. A. McKirgan, dentist, as a student. Five years later he began a thorough course of study at the New York College of Dentistry, from which he graduated with honors at the end of two years. The Doctor owes his success in life entirely to his own efforts and his practice of doing thoroughly everything he undertakes. His advancement in his chosen calling has been rapid in the extreme, and at the present time he is the possessor of a handsome office and residence on Pennington street, with an ex- tensive and still-growing practice. He is one of the best-known and popular Republicans in the city of Newark, and has always taken an active part in the political movements of the day. He was a member of the Board of Education in 1892 and 1893, declining re-election on account of his removal from the district. Socially, the Doctor is a leading spirit. He is a gifted conver- sationalist and an amateur actor of more than ordinary ability. In all outdoor sports he takes a lively interest, and to his practical management of the Triton Boat Club, of which he is Captain, is due many of the victories which has made that club famous in the annals of sport in New Jersey. He is a member, also, of the Garfield Club, East End Republican Club, Tenth Ward Republican Club, Republican Indian League, Republican County Society and Royal Arcanum.
JOHN HENRY PEAL was born in Newark, New Jersey, October 18th, 1839. Upon leaving school he went west and DR. JOSEPH S. VINSON. took up his residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. In the meantime he perfected his education by a four years' course in the Cincinnati Commercial College. Upon the breaking out of the Rebellion, he enlisted in the Eighth Ohio Militia, serving with distinction until 1864, when he returned to Newark, where he has since resided. He immediately engaged at his chosen trade, and in 1867 was established for himself as a builder, meeting with a success which has steadily followed him. Living for years in the Thirteenth ward of Newark, he became identified with its interests and was mainly instrumental in
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shaping its development. He was a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders from 1882 to 1886. In the fall of 1885 he was a candidate for the Assembly, and successfully defeated Theobald, the opposing Republican nominee. In 1893 he was again elected to the House of Assembly, and was prominently identified with the legislation affecting the roads of Essex county. Mr. Peal was married in 1870 to Eliza Finter, whose father was a member of the School Board of Newark. He has three children now living. He is a member of Mason's Lodge, No. 7 ; a Knight of Honor, and belongs to various singing societies, of which he is an active member.
FREDERICK WILLIAM MOCK, JR., was born in Newark, Essex county, New Jersey, July 23d, 1870, and is a graduate from the public schools of that eity. In 1887 he accepted a position with the Chemical National Bank, of New York, and is still connected with that institution in the capacity of corresponding clerk. Mr. Moek began to take an active interest in the polities of Essex county at a very early age, and has rendered very efficient service to the Republican party. He was one of the. organizers of the First Presidential Voter's Club, of which he was Chairman of the Organiza- tion Committee, and has JOHN H. PEAL. done good work in organiz- ing distriet clubs in his own ward. He was Secretary of the Executive Committee of the ward for two years. Active, bright and energetic, he does thoroughly whatever he undertakes, and his abilities and services were recognized by his party by his nomination for the New Jersey Assembly of 1895. He was elected by a plurality of 11,509 votes over Mr. Comes, the highest candidate on the Demoeratie tieket. He served on the Committees on Militia and Unfinished Business.
ANDREW J. BREIDENBACH was born in Wuertzburg, Bavaria, Germany, in 1850, and, with his parents, came to America at the age of two years. They settled in New York City, where young Breidenbach was educated. At the age of FREDERICK W. MOCK, JR. thirteen he was forced to depend upon his own efforts for a livelihood, and his subsequent suceess has proven his ability to master adverse eircumstanees. Early in life he began work at the trade of cigarmaker, which he learnt to perfection. At the age of twenty-one years he removed to the city of New- ark and almost immediately entered into the politics of that city. Here he soon became a leader by sheer force of his natural abilities and aggressive personality. His first office, and as a reward for his services, was that of Assistant Superin- tendent of Public Lighting. He held that position from 1885 to 1889, when he was appointed Deputy Collector of Revenues under Revenue Collector George H. Large. He resigned this office in 1895 to enter the real estate, life and fire insurance business, at which vocation his usual good success attends him. Mr. Breidenbach has been Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of ANDREW J. BREIDENBACH. Assembly for two successive years. His efficiency during both terms was fittingly attested by handsome mementos from that legislative body. He was one of the organizers of Atlas Lodge, No. 68, I. O. O. F., and is a member of Newark Lodge, No. 21, B. and P. O. E .; Northern Lodge, K. of H .; Arion Singing Society, Twelfth Ward German-English School Society, Unity Conclave, No. 1891, Order of Heptasophs ; honorary member of Equitable Club, and one of the most ardent workers in the County Republican Society.
C
JOHN E. MCARTHUR.
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JOHN E. MCARTHUR is a native of Scotland, and was born in the city of Glasgow, February 28th, 1855. By profession he is a contractor and civil engineer, and possesses great practical man- agerial ability, which is recognized by those associated with him in business. When nineteen years of age he had entire charge of and completed the sewerage system of Lawrence, Massachusetts, and two years later (1876) he superintended the reclaiming of Robert's Island, in the San Joaquin river, California, for an English syndicate. In 1882 he took charge of the West Point tunnel for the West Shore railroad, and had charge of the construction of all the railroad buildings west of Utica for the same company. In 1885 he established himself as a builder and general contractor in Jersey City, and began to take an active interest in its affairs. He was appointed commissioner on the joint sewer between Jersey City and West Hoboken. He was the Republican nominee for Alderman in 1886 and 1887 in the old Fourth District. It is a Democratic stronghold, but he was defeated by only a small majority. In 1890 he ran again for Alderman, and was elected by nearly 200 majority. In 1892 he was appointed Building Inspector, and in the following year was appointed by Mayor Wanser a member of the Board of Street and Water Commissioners, of which, upon the organiza- tion of the board, he was made its president. He was a member of the Assembly for 1897, and was elected by a plurality of 3,207 over the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. The same indomitable spirit that characterizes his life was brought to bear upon his legislative career. Every bill introduced by him was carefully watched over, and persistently fought for when occasion required. Through him a number of important bills benefiting Jersey City became laws, and the fight upon his bill known as the "McArthur act " resulted in one of the most stubbornly-contested victories in the history of the New Jersey Legislature. Mr. McArthur is a member of the Arion Society, Fremont Club, Good Fellows, Knights of Honor, and Eagle Lodge, No. 53, F. and A. M., all of Jersey City, and of Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of New York. On April 23d, 1897, he was appointed Tax Commissioner for a term of three years. He is at present Mana- ger of the Jersey City Electric Light Company, besides being interested in several other important enterprises.
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