USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 53
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
30
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
WILLIAM H. DoD was born in New York City on January 3d, 1860. He received his early schooling in Tottenville, Staten Island, and removed to Hoboken, New Jersey, at the age of sixteen, where he has ever since resided. As a boy he was a messenger in the editorial rooms of the "New York Herald," and for eleven years was a ferrymaster in the employ of the Hoboken Ferry Company, and is now a trustee of the Ferrymen's Association. Resigning from his position with the Ferry company, he began business as a general contractor, in which line he has firmly established himself. Mr. Dod is very popular in Hoboken, both socially and politically. In politics he is a Republican, and represented the Tenth Assembly District in the Legislature of 1897. At the election which resulted in his favor, his plurality was 4,001 over the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. Mr. Dod is a member of Euclid Lodge, F. and A. M. ; Fraternity Lodge, I. O. O. F .; Hoboken Lodge, No. 93, R. A .; a member of the Republican County Committee, Chairman of the Fifth Ward Hoboken Republican Committee and a trustee of the Hoboken Pioneer Club.
STEPHEN V. W. STOUT, M.D., the well known physician of Jersey City, was born in Old Bridge, Middlesex county, New Jersey, July 4th, 1846. He had every educational advantage as a boy, and gradu- WILLIAM H. DOD. ated with honors from Columbia College, New York. He then took the prescribed medical course at the New York College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which he graduated in 1868. He soon established a reputation in his chosen profession, and has to-day one of the largest practices in the county of Hudson. From 1873 to 1876 he was county physician of Hudson county. Dr. Stout was pre- vailed upon to accept the Democratic nomination for Assembly in November of 1892, and was elected by a plurality of 505. In the House he served on the Com- mittees on Education and on Stationery, and on Joint Committee on State Library. He refused a nomination in the following fall, the demands of his large practice requiring all his time.
CHARLES M. EVANS was born in Jersey City, November 13th, 1868. He is the son of Louis Evans of that city who, for thirty-five years, has been County Committeeman, and very actively engaged for the past forty years with building enterprises of Jersey City. His mother is the daughter of the well-known John Calvert, one of Jersey City's old time residents. Mr. Evans was educated in the public schools of his native city, and graduated with honors from the High School. At the age of nineteen he embarked in business for himself, and to-day is a prosperous contracting mason and builder. In that part of the city where he resides he has taken more than an active interest in its improve- CHARLES M. EVANS. ment, having handled more property and erected more buildings than any other contractor of his town. He is a member of the Fourth Regiment, the Royal Arcanum, and very active in the affairs of the Wanser Club, the foremost Republican organization in Hudson county. Mr. Evans was a member of the Assembly for 1897, having received a plurality of 4,006 votes over the highest Democratic candidate.
31
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
WILLIAM H. HOOKER was born of American parents, at Churchville, Ontario, September 27th, 1834. He attended public school Ne. 35 of New York, to which city his parents had removed when he was six years of age. He served throughout the entire Mexican war, having entered the army as a musician at the age of ten years. At the close of the war he learned the trade of machinist, and thus laid the groundwork of his ultimate success in life. In 1852 he began steamboating and, at the outbreak of the Civil War he took the position of chief engineer of an armed transport and served in that capacity during the entire war. He was with the Burnside expedition and took part in engagements at Roanoke Island, New- burn and other points. On leaving the navy, he re- sumed his business of steamboating, as pilot and master, until 1871, when he became superintendent of the John Starin fleet. In 1883 he was made superin- tendent of the New England Transportation Company, and, upon the consolidation of that company with the Empire Transportation Company he was made super- intendent of both. He resigned from his position in the fall of 1894. In April of that year he was ap- pointed by Mayor Wanser a member of the Jersey City Street and Water Board, to which office he was again returned when that body became an elective one. Mr. Hooker is now Superintendent of the Belleville Water WILLIAM H. HOOKER. Works, an office for which he is eminently well qualified. He was married January 15th, 1854, to Miss Katharine Elizabeth Coyne, and is the father of fifteen children, six of whom are now living, two girls and four boys. He is a member of the Union League, New Jersey ; the Palma, Catholic and Young Men's Republican clubs ; of the American Legion of Honor, Royal Arcanum, National Provident Union, American Model Yacht Club of Brooklyn, and Jersey City Yacht Club, and is a member of St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church of Jersey City.
WILLIAM GREEN was born at Bath, Somersetshire, England, July 31st, 1845. Educated in the public schools of his native town, at the age of twenty he came to America and has resided in Hudson county since that time. He first embarked in market gardening, at which he has con- tinued ever since. In later years he has been engaged in many public works as contractor, which is increasing in scope and importance. About 1882 Mr. Green began to take an active interest in politics, and that year was elected to the Town Board of Kearney, a position he held for six years. In 1888 he was appointed Water Register, holding that office for two years, and resigning when elected Assessor. In the fall of the same year he ran for and was elected Freeholder for Hudson county for two years, and has since been elected to the same position and appointed Director. In 1882 Kearney township defaulted its Montclair Railroad bonds. Mr. Green effected a compromise with the holders of these bonds, resulting in the refunding of the seven per cent. bonds at five per cent. During Mr. Green's term, and largely owing to his enterprise, two new and large school-houses, with free books for the children, have been built. Water mains and sewers have been put in, fire engines pro- vided, and the Kearney of other days (in darkness and without WILLIAM GREEN. light) has had the conveniences of the most favored counties. Mr. Green has always been an ardent Republican, and can always be counted a stalwart in the camp. He is a Mason, a Forester and Odd Fellow, and the leader of the West Hudson Republican League of the Seventh Assembly District.
CHARLES B. THURSTON.
33
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
CHARLES BALDWIN THURSTON has for a quarter of a century been one of the most widely-known and popular residents of Jersey City. He was born in New York City on April 2d, 1832. He comes of Colonial stock, his grandfather, Rev. Peter Thurston, of London, England, having accepted a call to New York in 1767.
Peter Kipps Thurston, the father of Charles B., was a well known piano-forte manufacturer in New York. He died while his son was quite a young boy, and Charles B. made his home with his uncle, Justice David W. Baldwin, in Newark, New Jersey. In that city he attended the school of William Walton, and subsequently spent two years in the Academy at Chatham, New Jersey, under the instruction of Professor Foigus, completing his education at the private school of Nathan Hedges, a well-known educator of Newark.
Soon after graduation he became a medical student with his cousin, Dr. Dennis E. Smith, in Brooklyn. While there he became acquainted with Dr. George Wood, a well-known and highly- esteemed dentist, and being often in his laboratory he decided to give up medicine and apply him- self to the study of dental surgery. He entered the office of Dr. John Hassell, a dentist of good repute who had a large practice in Newark. After completing his studies he practiced for himself and soon established an enviable reputation as a practitioner.
Close application to business brought a failure of health, and he gave up his practice to associ- ate himself with an uncle in the paint and varnish business, but this was not congenial, and early in 1865 he went via Panama to California and Nevada to look after some mining interests. He returned via Nicaragua in 1867 and accepted the agency of several large insurance companies. He had control of the insurance of several railroad companies, among which was the United New Jersey Railroad and Canal Company. At the time this company leased to the Pennsylvania Railroad Com- pany he became associated with the late A. L. Dennis in looking after the general interests of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company in New Jersey and New York, and was made a Director in a num- ber of companies controlled by the Pennsylvania railroad. In 1872 he was elected Secretary and Trustee of the Associates of the Jersey Company, which position he still holds.
In 1882 he was elected President of the Jersey City and Bergen Railroad Company. At that time, and for many years, this company had been operating the Jersey City street railway system in an unsatisfactory and unprofitable manner. Under Mr. Thurston's management the road was rebuilt and restocked. The same successes which had followed his efforts in his private business resulted from his management of the railroad, and when it was sold a short time ago to the present company the stock fetched an average of 400.
On April 14th, 1859, Mr. Thurston married Lida, daughter of the late James J. Armour, of New York. She is still living. They have no children.
Mr. Thurston is a Thirty-second Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the New Jersey Consistory. He was made a Mason in Eureka Lodge, No. 39, F. and A. M., in Newark in 1858, and served several years as Secretary. He affiliated with Bergen Lodge, No. 47, in Jersey City, and be- came Master of the Lodge in 1879. He was elected High Priest of Union Chapter, No. 7, R. A. M., of Newark, in 1864, and is representative of the Grand Chapter of Nevada in the Grand Chapter of New Jersey, and representative of the Grand Lodge of Wisconsin in the Grand Lodge of New Jersey. He is Chairman of the Grand Lodge Committee on Territorial Jurisdiction of Lodges. He is also a member of the Masonic Veterans of New York. He is a member of the Jersey City and Carteret Clubs in Jersey City, and of the Lawyers' and Sullivan County Clubs in New York, and a member of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In June, 1888, he was appointed by the late Manning M. Knapp, then a Justice of the Supreme Court, as one of the Hudson County Park Commissioners, and was elected President of the Board, which position he retained as long as the Board continued in existence. He is now one of the Com- missioners of Ajustment, having been appointed by Judge Werts in 1892 to succeed William Muir- heid, deceased. He is President of the Fayetteville Water, Light and Power Company, of North Carolina; President of the Jersey City Chain Works, President of the Port Richmond and Bergen Point Ferry Company, President of the Millstone and New Brunswick Railroad Company, and is Di- rector or Trustee in a large number of corporations, and is Receiver for quite a number of companies.
E
3-4
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
JOSEPH McCOMB was born in the north of Ireland in 1847. When about three years of age he came to America with his parents ; his father, John McComb, a competent stone mason, selecting Jersey City as a permanent residence. At that time the only public school in the city was No. 1, located on York street. Here he attended until he began his business career as a provision dealer, a calling he is still success- fully carrying on. Mr. McComb has been more or less promi- nently connected with the political life of Jersey City and county. He was elected a inember of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1894 and was returned to the same office in 1896, the duties of which he more than satisfactorily performs. Mr. McComb was married early in life to Louisa Valois, who died in 1883, leaving six children, three of whom still survive, two girls and one son ; the latter, William, is Warden of the County Hospital. His second wife was Louisa, daughter of the late Isaac Edge, a prominent citizen of Jersey City and a noted maker of fireworks. Mr. McComb has been a lifelong Republican. He is a member of the County Committee and of the Bergen Republican Club of the Ninth ward. He also belongs to Zeradetha Lodge, No. 131, F. and A. M., and to Van Houten Post, No. 3, JOSEPH MCCOMB. G. A. R.
CONRAD DIETZ was born in North Bergen, January 15th, 1857, at the same place at which he now resides. His father, William Dietz, with his wife, Mary, and their infant son, Wil- liam, came to this country from Bavaria in 1851 and settled on the site of the present homestead, engaging in the business of florist. Conrad, upon leaving the public schools, entered upon the career of florist, and has pursued that branch with such activity that he has gained great prominence in his calling. In 1877 Mr. Dietz married Miss Elizabeth Georgiana, daughter of George F. Williams, who served in the Mexican War and afterward adopted a seafaring life, from which he is now re- tired. Their union was blessed with three children-Mary, Eliza and Sophia, the eldest now teaching in the school in which her father received CONRAD DIETZ. his education. Mr. Dietz was a member of the Democratic General. Committee for four years before his election to his present office of Chosen Free- holder in the fall of 1894, in which board he is now filling his second term. He is a member of the Florist's Club, Foresters of America and a volunteer fireman. It is hardly necessary to add that he takes a foremost interest in all questions appertain- ing to the welfare of his community.
JOSEPH ZUMBUSCH, the well-known plumber of the Lafay- ette section of Jersey City, was born in the city of New York, June 9th, 1851. There he received his education, and early in life chose the calling at which he is now so proficient. Going to Jersey City in 1869, he continued at his trade with such success JOSEPH ZUMBUSCH. that he was enabled to branch out for himself in 1872 in the same section of the city in which he now resides. He is a member of the Master Plumbers' Association. His political inclinations are and always have been Republican, and he is numbered among the prominent workers in that party, and an active member of the Lafayette Republican Battery. While frequent opportunity has been given him to run for office, he had never done so until the recent campaign, when, as a candidate for Chosen Freeholder, he represented his party and was elected to that board by a sweeping majority. Mr. Zumbusch was married on Febru- ary 12th, 1879, to Louisa Niehoff. He has four children now living, two boys and two girls.
35
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
JOHN G. FISHER, County Clerk of Hudson county, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 22d, 1843. He is the son of J. G. Fisher, of New Brunswick, and Julia Henry, daughter of William Henry, of the same city, a captain in the merchant marine. He was educated in the public schools of his native city, and began his business career as clerk in a clothing store. In June, 1862, he enlisted in the Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers, and served until August, 1864, when he was mustered out, with rank of first lieutenant. He saw much active service and, at the battle of Coal Harbor, he received a severe wound. He removed to Jersey City in 1867, entering the law office of ex-Judge W. T. Hoffman, in Hoboken, with whom he remained several years. Dur- ing this time he acquired considerable knowledge of State law, which he has since made good use of. In 1874 he secured a position in the County Clerk's office, under John Kennedy, and there remained under the administration of several clerks, a valued and trusted employe. When Dennis Mclaughlin was elected County Clerk he vacated his old position and opened a real estate office, but at the request of Mr. Mclaughlin, who found his services indispensable, he resumed his former position under him. He was elected to the Board of Aldermen in 1873, and later on ran success- JOHN G. FISHER. fully for Justice of the Peace. He was elected to the present office of County Clerk of Hudson county in 1895, and is universally recognized as one of the most upright and capable public officials of the county. Mr. Fisher has always been a Republi- can and an enthusiastic worker for the party, casting his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. He is one of the leading members of Zabriskie Post, G. A. R., and in high standing with that body. Mr. Fisher resides at No. 148 Academy street, Jersey City. He has four children, and his domestic and social relations are of the happiest description.
BENJAMIN MURPHY was born in Ireland, January 25th, 1845. He has resided in Jersey City since child- hood. At the breaking out of the Rebellion, and before CHIEF he was seventeen years old, he enlisted in the Eighth New Jersey Infantry, which regiment formed part of the famous Second New Jersey Brigade. He rose rapidly from the ranks, passing in quick succession from the grade of Corporal to that of Captain, each promotion being the just award of meritorious conduct. He was made Corporal within a year after his enlistment and assigned to the color guard, where he remained until the battle of Gettysburg (in which engagement he was thrice wounded), when he was made a Sergeant. At the battle of Chancellorsville he and one other, of a guard of nine, were all that left the field alive. Both were wounded, but did not leave the field until the regiment retired. Previous to the campaign of the Wilderness he was promoted to First Sergeant, and BENJAMIN MURPHY. as such commanded his company through the Wilderness and Spottsylvania campaign and up to Petersburg, when he was made First Lieutenant. He was promoted to the Captaincy in May, 1865. His regiment took part in thirty-eight general engagements, and lost nearly 900 men. He is one of less than twenty men of his regiment who served with it continuously from its organization until it was mustered out, without having been absent during its
36
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
service of three years and eleven months. At the close of the war he returned to Jersey City, where he was employed in the post-office, remaining thus engaged until he was appointed on the police force. Soon after the cessation of hostilities he helped organize Company C, Fourth Regiment, called the Hooker Rifles. He was its second Captain, and remained in command until he joined the force of which he is now Chief, on May 7th, 1873. For four years he served as Inspector, and over two years as Sergeant. His promotion as Chief of Department dates from August 4th, 1879. To him is owing the Tenure of Office law, which he drew and secured the passage of, a law which, to a large extent, eliminates politics from the police department, and has improved the police force of the entire State. Chief Murphy's military train- ing has been brought to bear upon the management of the Jersey City police force, which, in point of good order and discipline, holds an unusually high rank. He is prominent in Grand Army circles, is a member of the military order of the Loyal Legion, and of Lodge No. 66, I. O. O. F., of Jersey City.
FREDERICK RIPPE was born in Brunswick, Germany, February 27th, 1849. At the age of eighteen he came to America and entered the employ of Frederick Wilkens, grocer, of New York City, with whom he remained until 1872, when he embarked for himself in the same line, selling out in 1878 to engage in the liquor business. In 1891 he bought his present handsome place in Union Hill. Mr. Rippe's political FREDERICK RIPPE. career began in New York, under the auspices of Tammany Hall. He was always a worker in the ranks, refusing to take nomination for office until 1894, when he was elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders. He was re-elected to the same office in 1896. Mr. Rippe was married in 1872 to Miss Adelheid Wilkens, the sister of his former employer. They were confirmed together as children ; were companions in youth, and, being reunited in America, joined fortunes for life. Three children have blessed their union. The eldest, Charles, is in the tobacco business in New York ; the younger, Arnhold H., is in the insurance business ; and the daughter, Martha, has recently graduated from school. Mr. Rippe is a member of the Lutheran Church and Past Master of Hermann Lodge, No. 268, F. and A. M., New York City.
RICHARD J. LYNCH was born October 5th, 1867, in Cedar street, West Hoboken, and was educated at St. Mary's parochial school. His father, Daniel Lynch, came to America about 1874 and settled in Providence, Rhode Island, twenty years later removing to West Hoboken, where he was for many years known as the "Village Blacksmith," a trade he followed until his death. Upon the completion of his education Mr. Lynch learned the painter's trade, and at the age of twenty years was enabled to engage in that business for himself and to which he now adds a successful business of general contractor. His politics from his boyhood have been steadfastly Democratic. He has represented his party in ward, town, district, county and state Conventions, acting as member of General Committee RICHARD J. LYNCH. and Secretary of Town Committee, gaining, deservedly, the reputation of an aggressively active worker. In 1896 he was elected a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, carrying a strongly Republican district, after the hottest campaign in the history of the town. Mr. Lynch is the mainstay of his mother, with whom he lives, and both are devout members of St. Michael's Monastery, of West Hoboken.
37
LEGISLATIVE AND BIOGRAPHICAL SUPPLEMENT.
FRANCIS PIERCY, member of Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders, was born in Jersey City, May 5th, 1860, and received his education at the public schools Nos. 12 and 14. He early in life showed an extreme fondness for horticultural pursuits, which ultimately led to his adopting the business of a florist. For the past ten years he has con- ducted extensive greenhouses on Bidwell avenue and firmly established himself among the prominent florists of Hudson county. He has been twice elected to the office of Chosen Freeholder. He first took his scat in 1894, and was re-elected in 1896, still holding that office. He married Miss Eliza Kiltermann, the daughter of a leading truckman of New York. Four children blessed that union, two boys and two girls. Mr. Piercy is a member of the Royal Arcanum, Junior Order American Mechanics, Daughters of Liberty, Onward Council, of Jersey City, and of the Wanser Club and Greenville Repub- lican League. Socially, Mr. Piercy is much esteemed, and in business affairs and in his official position he has commanded the respect of his fellow-citizens.
S. A. J. NEELY was born in Maryland, May FRANCIS PIERCY. 21st, 1845, and received his education at the school in Emmitsburg, in that State. After the close of the late war he removed to Reading, Pennsylvania, and entered the service of the Reading railroad in November, 1866. He rapidly passed through all the grades in the life of a railroader, and was for fourteen years passenger conductor on the trains of that system, and trainmaster of S. S. & L. R. R. for three years. In April of 1887 he severed his connection with the Reading road to accept the position of train despatcher of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, at Jersey City, and was subsequently transferred to Bayonne city, New Jersey, in the same capacity. Mr. Neely is a prominent figure in the politics of Hudson county. S. A. J. NEELY. He served four years in the Bayonne Council, and was elected a member of the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders in November of 1886.
ALEXANDER J. CLEMENTS is a native of Jersey City, and was born March 3d, 1868. He is the son of the late A. J. Clements, lumber inspector for the Pennsylvania railroad up to the time of his death in 1887. Alexander is the second of five children ; his eldest brother, William, is the popular Sergeant Major of the Fourth Regiment. Upon leaving Public School, No. 3, Mr. Clements started his business career as a district mes- senger boy, continuing in that service until 1885, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, at their meadow shops, to learn the trade of carpenter. In that line he perfected ALEXANDER J. CLEMENT himself and is still in the employ of that railroad. Mr. Clem- ents was made a member of the Democratic County Committee in 1893, and has since been one of its most active workers. For a young man, his political record is an enviable one, and his ability was recognized by his election in 1896 to the Board of Chosen Freeholders for a term of two years. He is a member of the Robert Davis Association, the Foresters of America, and is the standard-bearer of the association which bears his name.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.