USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 54
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ANTHONY HAUCK, Street and Water Commissioner of Jersey City, and the subject of this sketch, was born at Greenwood, Monmouth county, New Jersey, April 13th, 1856. His father removed with his family to Jersey City when Anthony was two years old, and embarked in the wood business about 1860, to which later on he added coal. When old enough, Anthony entered the public schools of Jersey City, last attending School No. 3. On the death of his father (1884), Anthony, with his two brothers, John F. and Adam M., succeeded to the business which they together conducted until the death of Adam in 1892, since which time Anthony and John have continued the business which, under their energetic and prudent management, has as- sumed large proportions and wonderfully prospered. They have accumulated a large rental residence property which they person- ally supervisc. Mr. Hauck has been a lifelong resident of the Sixth ward and knows the wants of his people. Having already filled two terms as Alderman, he was elected on the Democratic ticket as a Street and Water Commissioner of Jersey City at the last municipal election (1897) for a term of three years, by the unprecedented majority of 3,200 votes. His record is a suffi- cient guarantee that his present work in that office will be satis- factorily performed.
ANTHONY HAUCK.
MORRIS HEINEY was born in Richmond, Pennsylvania, November 13th, 1864. Early in life he, with his parents, re- moved to Jersey City, where he has ever since resided. He attended Public School No. S, and completed his education by taking the course prescribed at Payne's Business College, New York. His first business employment was that of wax-making machinery, and it was not until 1884 that he became engaged in his present business of wholesale and retail produce and foreign and domestic fruits. This venture proved successful from the start, and he has long since ranked as one of the substantial men of his ward. Mr. Heiney may be called a born politician. Even as a boy his enthusiasm in this respect manifested itself, and for years he has been the most ardent political worker in his district. Dur- MORRIS HEINEY. ing the campaign which resulted in the election of John W. Griggs as Governor of New Jersey, he practically controlled the vote of his ward, and to him was owing the large majority then cast for that candidate. Mr. Heiney is a member of the Fremont Club, Lincoln Union Club, Hudson Republican Club, and is the standard-bearer of the club which bears his name. He is a prominent member of Rathbone Lodge, No. 19, K. of P., and of Farnsworth Lodge, No. 143; Palisade Encampment, and Rebekah Evergreen Lodge, No. 3, I. O. O. F.
FREDERICK J. STUHR was born in Jersey City, January 4th, 1870. He is a graduate of Public School No. 8, Jersey City High School, and New York University, of which latter he is a FREDERICK J. STUHR. member of the Class of '93. Prior to entering the university he learned the trade of paper-hanging in the office of his father. Subsequently he entered the office of Henry A. Gaede, of Hoboken, and began the study of law. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in June, 1893, and now has a good paying practice, his office being at No. 335 Central avenue, Jersey City. In the fall of 1895 Mr. Stuhr was nominated for the New Jersey Assembly, but was defeated with all the other nominees on the Republican ticket, that year witnessing a Democratic landslide in Hudson county. In November of 1896 he was
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elected Chosen Freeholder of the Twelfth ward, Jersey City, and is now the youngest member of that board. Mr. Stuhr is a member of Simpson M. E. Church, and for three years was President of Simpson Chapter of Epworth League. He is a member of Eagle Lodge, No. 53, F. and A. M .; of Delta Chi, College Fraternity, New York University; represents the Twelfth ward in the Executive Committee of the Hudson County Republican Committee ; is a member of the Twelfth Ward Republican Association of Jersey City, and charter member of the Tremont Club, one of the leading clubs in Hudson county.
TIMOTHY J. CARROLL was born in Piermont, Rockland county, New York, June 10th, 1858. His parents removed to Jersey City when he was two years old, and young Carroll had the advant- age of the education afforded by the public and parochial schools of that city. He has ever since resided in Jersey City, where he now holds a clerical position with the Street and Water Board, in which capacity he has served since April 1st, 1880. Since childhood he has been a resident of the Second ward, and has prominently figured in its Democratic politics ever since he had a vote He was appointed clerk to the Committee on Municipal Corporations in the Assem- bly, session of 1889. He was elected to the New Jersey Assem- bly of 1892 by a plurality of 918, and was re-elected for the sessions of 1893 and 1894 by an increased plurality. During his term of office he served as Chairman of the Committee on En- grossed Bills, and as member of the Committees on Ways and Means, Incidental Expenses, and State Prison. His legislative career was signalized by strict attention to the duties of his office. He had the honor of introducing the first bill in the new Assem- bly Chamber. He introduced and passed the first bill for pen- sioning the firemen, and also had passed the bill creating a full- paid fire department. He introduced and passed a "Cheap Gas TIMOTHY J. CARROLL. bill," but it was defeated in the Senate. Through his untiring efforts the bill was passed that appropriated $175,000 for the Fourth Regiment Armory. In 1897 Mr. Carroll was again renominated and successfully elected a member of the Assembly.
SIMON KELLY, Point View Hotel, Weehawken, New Jersey, was born in County Kildare, Ireland, August 22d, 1848, and came to America with his parents, landing in Hoboken November 5th, when Simon was only five months old. From then until now Simon Kelly has had some- thing to do with the prosperity and public affairs of Weehaw- ken. His father became the village blacksmith of Hoboken, and died in 1857, leaving Simon, a boy of nine, as the support of his mother and two sisters. He took a position in the office of John Don Littell, the Prosecutor of Hudson county, at the age of ten, and then and there, with all the energy that such a boy would possess, began a list of unnumbered enterprises, never failing in any, until to-day no man in the community occupies a more prominent place in either public or private life than Mayor Kelly. In 1871 he married Miss Annie Fottrell, of Hoboken. Seven children have been born to them, four of whom survive, three girls and one boy. In 1896 Mrs. Kelly died and was honored by perhaps the largest funeral ever held in the county. Mr. Kelly's first official position was Overseer of the Poor, which he held through 1869-70-71. He is a member of the Board of Education, and was President of that board six years. He was Chairman of the Township SIMON KELLY. Committee seven years. He has been a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders six years, the last election by the largest majority he ever obtained. When a young man Mr. Kelly was a strong Fenian, and took part in the Fenian raid in Canada in 1866. While Mr. Kelly is not financially well fixed in this world, he might have been worth many times as much, only for his well known and persistent liberality toward every charitable and public enterprise of his town. Mr. Kelly is a member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, and of the orders of Red Men and Foresters.
JOSEPH P. MULLIN.
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JOSEPH P. MULLIN was born in Waterdown, Wentworth county, Canada, January 31st, 1854. He early developed a talent for mechanics, and before he was twenty years old had charge of the business of William C. White, builder and contractor, of Hamilton, Ontario. About this time he formed the acquaintance of the eminent Mechanical and Hydraulic Engineer, Mr. J. H. Killey, and entering his large machine shop, in Hamilton, began his career of engineering, at which he is now so proficient. On May 7th, 1880, lie entered the employ of the Beckett Foundry and Machine Works, of Arlington, New Jersey, of which he subsequently became general manager. He is a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and the only member of that organization ever elected to a seat in the Legislature. He is also well known as an author and writer on subjects connected with his chosen calling, and is a logical and fluent speaker on all public matters. In 1892 he was elected Chairman of the Hudson County Democratic Convention that nominated W. D. Daly for the State Senate, and was one of the new Committee of Forty formed after that campaign. He was also one of the sub-committee that effected the system of open primaries now in successful operation. To Mr. Mullin's untiring and intelligent efforts is due the failure to take Harrison and Kearney from Hudson county and annex them to Essex county. The bill to that effect (introduced by Assemblyman Kerr in 1894) passed the House over the Governor's veto, but was lost in the Senate by reason of the opposition against it, raised through the labors of Mr. Mullin.
He was nominated for the Assembly in the fall of that year, as opposed to Mr. Kerr, but received seven votes short of the number requisite to election, which left his district that year with- out a representative. He was, however, elected to the Assembly in 1895 by a plurality of 4, 112. He took an active part in the passage of the Teachers' Retirement Fund bill, and worked faithfully in the interest of Equal Taxation, Track Elevation, and the Newark Armory bill. He was inter- ested in the codification of the Borough Laws of the State, and was conspicuously prominent in his fight for the consolidation of the municipalities of Harrison, Kearney and East Newark. While he refused a renomination, he took an active part in the campaign of 1896, and was the author of the first resolution offered in Hudson county in favor of William J. Bryan and the Chicago platform.
Although he does not hold any public office, he takes the same active interest in all public matters, and believes this to be one of the duties of every good American citizen.
F
ROBERT DAVIS.
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ROBERT DAVIS has been one of the most successful leaders the Democratic party has had in New Jersey. His talent for organization and his executive ability, with his strong friendship, have enabled him to exercise a control over political affairs in Hudson county for many years. His name has been one to conjure by, and he has the strongest personal following of any political leader in the State. After being educated in the public schools and St. Peter's Parochial School he was em- ployed as collector by the Jersey City Gas Company for eighteen years. He was a member of the Volunteer Fire Department, and took a lively interest in politics. He became a member of the Democratic County Committee, and soon developed executive ability and the qualities which made him a leader. He was elected a member of the Board of Aldermen in 1885, and re-elected, serving until 1888. He was elected Sheriff of Hudson county in 1887, and served the full term. He was appointed a Police Justice in 1891, and was appointed Jailor for Hudson county in 1892, resigning the office of Police Justice to accept the latter position. He is the acknowledged leader of the Democratic party in Hudson county, and exerts a strong influence on the politics of his party throughout the State. He is engaged in the mercantile business, and controls the stock of the Jer- sey City Supply Company, a firm largely interested in plumbers' and gas-fitters' supplies. He is a member of the Hudson County Democratic Committee, is President of the Fourth District Demo- cratic Association, and member of the Davis Association, a social and political association named in his honor, and also Chairman of the Campaign Committee of Hudson county for several years.
WILLIAM J. MORAN was born in Jersey City, August 30th, 1865. He received his rudimen- tary education in the Catholic Institute and St. Peter's Parochial School, after which he attended Public School No. 1 of that city, completing his studies at Brown's Business College. After leaving college he accepted a position as business manager of St. John's Hall, which he held a number of years for his father, the late Patrick Moran, who was a prominent citizen of Jersey City. In 1882 he
entered the employ of the M. Brady estate, undertaker. In 1884 he resigned his position with the Brady estate to accept a similar position with M. J. Boylan. In 1886 he entered the undertaking business on his own account, at No. 50 Gregory street. In 1890 he opened a livery stable at 69 York street in connection with the undertaking business. Two years later he built his present establishment at No. 147 Mont- gomery street, where he resides and conducts the undertaking and livery business. On February 29th, 1892, he was mar- ried in St. Peter's Church, of Jersey City. He is a prominent member of Paulus Hook Council, No. 183, Catholic Benevo- lent Legion ; Ancient Order of Hibernians of America, Division WILLIAM J. MORAN. No. 2; also Jersey City Council, No. 137, K. of C., and the Robert Davis Democratic Association. In April, 1896, he was elected a member of the Board of Aldermen for a term of two years.
MICHAEL J. KENNY was born at Piermont-on-Hudson. He is the son of the late Peter Kenny, who for years was connected with the Erie railway. After completing his education at the schools of Jersey City, he learned the trade of sash and blind maker, a pursuit he followed for years. In recent years he has been engaged in the saloon business, and his place of business, corner Grove and Pavonia avenue, is a favorite resort for many prominent officials and politicians. Mr. Kenny has always been very active in Democratic politics. He is known and appreciated as a good worker, and is universally popular. He was a member of the Democratic County Committee, and in 1894 was elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders for the two-year term. He is now serving his second term in that board, having been re-elected for an additional term of two years. In January of 1881 he married Margaret Whelan, daughter of a prominent gardener, by whom he had five children, four girls and one boy. Mr. Kenny is a member of the Robert Davis Associa- tion, the Dennis Mclaughlin Association, the Greenwood Pleasure Club, the Jersey City Foresters of America, and St. Michael's Catholic Club.
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ISAAC ROMAINE was born in the city of Bergen (now part of Jersey City), May 4th, 1840. He is a lineal descendant of (1) Klaas Jansen Romeyn, who came from Holland in 1653 and eventually settled in Hackensack, New Jersey, where his son (2) Albert was born in 1686, and where"the latter's son (3) Nicholaas was born in December, 1711. The next in descent (4), Albert Romein, son of Nicho- laas, was born in Schraalenburgh, New Jersey, February 11tlı, 1752, and had a son (5), Roelef A., who was born July 24th, 1774. John R. Romine (6), son of Roelef A. Romein, was born in Bergen county, New Jersey, May 18th, 1806, and married Ann, daughter of John Zabriskie, of Old Bergen (now Hudson) county. They were the parents of the subject of this sketch. Isaac prepared for college at the Columbia district school, which numbered among its teachers Hon. Charles H. Voorhis and Hon. L. A. Brigham, afterward members of Con- gress. He graduated from Rutgers College, New Brunswick, in the Class 1859, a class noted for the many able and promi- nent men who were members of it. Mr. Romaine began the study of law in the office of Hon. A. O. Zabriskie, afterward Chancellor of New Jersey, and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey at the November term, 1862, and as counselor at the ISAAC ROMAINE. November term, 1865. From 1865 to 1867 he was corporation counsel of the city of Bergen, now a part of Jersey City. He was elected Alderman of that city in 1869, and was president of the board in 1869 and 1870, at which time the city of Bergen was con- solidated with Jersey City. He was a member of the Jersey City Board of Education from 1880 to 1885, and in 1883 was appointed a member of the Board of Finance and Taxation of Jersey City, but owing to legal complications was not seated. He was elected to the Legislature of 1885, repre- senting the Fifth Assembly District, where he served as a member of the Committees on Claims and Revolutionary Pensions, and Stationery, and on Joint Committees on Passed Bills. He is a
master and examiner and special master in Chancery of New Jersey, a Supreme Court Commis- sioner of the State of New Jersey, and was a Commissioner of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey, until July 1st, 1897, when the office expired by legal limitation, when he was appointed a Commissioner of the District Court of the United States for the District of New Jersey. He has his office in the Weldon Building, where he carries on an extensive legal practice. Mr. Romaine is a member of the Jersey City, Carteret and Union League Clubs, of the Holland Society of New York, and Vice President of that society from Hudson county for the present year, and is also a member of a number of other social, civil and political organizations. And has been President since 1886 of the Star Mutual Building and Loan Association of Jersey City.
THOMAS D. MILLS was born in England, in 1839. He came to this country with his parents in 1846, who settled in Rhode Island. He learned the painter's trade in Newport, Rhode Island ; came to Jersey City in April, 1859, and carried on the business for several years. Mr. Mills is an ardent Republican, having cast his first vote for Lincoln in 1860. He is a member of several Republican clubs and a number of lodges, which are as follows : Palisade Encampment, No. 4, I. O. O. F .; Monticello, No. 140, I. O. O. F .; Enterprise, No. 48, F. and A. M .; Triune Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M .; Hugh THOMAS D. MILLS de Payens Commandery, No. 1, Jersey City ; Mecca Shrine, New York City. He is President of the Odd Fellows' Home of New Jersey. Has been twice elected and twice appointed by the Mayor to the Board of Fire Commissioners in Jersey City, and is now serving the second "three-years"
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term in the board, and as its President for the second term, in which he takes great pride. He joined the Fire Department in 1856, and has been active ever since. He is also Vice President of several building and loan associations, and takes great interest in all matters which interest Jersey City.
WILLIAM SEBASTIAN STUHR was born in Williamsburg, Kings county, New York, October 1st, 1859. He is of German parentage, his father, an old resident of Hoboken, having been a potent factor in the politics and public affairs for years in that city. Young Stuhr received a finished edu- cation at home and abroad, and after graduating from New York University he began the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in due course, and now ranks very high among the legal men of his county. He was appointed Corporation Counsel of Hoboken May 7th, 1883, which office he held until October 25th, 1885. Subsequently he was made Assistant Counsel to the Hudson County Board of Freeholders, which office he resigned in 1888. In 1889 he ran as Independent Democrat for the State Senate as the Fusion candidate against Edward F. McDonald. The canvass was a fierce one and formed an era in Hudson county politics. McDonald was literally "counted in," but was unseated on the last day of the session of 1890, and Mr. Stuhr was given the seat. In the following year the Democrats gained control of the Senate, and in spite of the most able defense of his undoubted rights he was unconstitutionally unseated and his seat returned to McDonald. Mr. Stuhr has his office at No. 47 Newark street, Hoboken, New Jersey, and makes that city his permanent resi- dence. He is a member of the Hoboken Quartette Club, Jersey WILLIAM SEBASTIAN STUHR. City Arion Club, Hoboken Lyra Society, Euclid Lodge, No. 136, F. and A. M., and the New York University Alumni Association.
JAMES F. BLACKSHAW was born in Cheshire, England, July 15th, 1841. He came to America, with his mother, in his early boyhood, having but a short time previous been bereaved of his father. He located in New York City and was educated in its public schools. Adopting the trade of a plumber he entered upon his duties with an energy and application characteristic of the man. In 1855 he located in Jersey City, where he has since resided and become identified with the commercial and political interests of the city. By rigid economy he was enabled to save sufficient money to embark in business for himself, and for the last quarter of a century he has profitably conducted a plumbing business, and ranks among the leaders in that line in the county. He enlisted August 21st, 1862, in Company G, Twenty-first New Jersey Volunteers, and had nine months' active service. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Salem Heights and pa- 1 roled after spending some time in Belle Isle Prison. Mr. Black- JAMES F. BLACKSHAW. shaw was elected a member of the Assembly of 1895, receiving a total of 25,240 votes in Hudson county. He served on the House Committees on Militia and Riparian Rights, and on Joint Committee on Printing. He was the introducer of the "Firemens' Promotion bill," and secured its passage. He took a deep interest in the "Firemens' Pension bill," the bill for the protection of the Palisades on the Hudson river, and the "Commission bill" for creating a home for veterans of the late war and their wives, all of which became laws. Mr. Blackshaw is a prominent member of G. Van Houten Post, No. 3, De- partment of New Jersey, G. A. R. He is an ardent Republican and a warm friend and staunch supporter of organized labor. He has been a member of Hiram Lodge, No. 17, A. F. and A. M., of Jersey City, since 1863, and is also a member of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 509, Knights of Honor.
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ADAM J. DITTMAR was born in Buttlar, Sachsen Weimar, Germany, October 25th, 1833, and was educated at the schools of his native town. He came to America on November 8th, 1850, and began his business career as a carpenter. In 1864 he established himself as a builder and is still thus engaged. Mr. Dittmar has ever taken much interest in the affairs of his adopted country, and has been a prominent figure in the political field of Hudson county. He was a mem- ber of the Board of Education, by appointment, for the years 1871, 1872 and 1873, and was a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1871 and 1872. For nine years, 1880 to 1889, he was a Commissioner of Assessments. In 1892 he was nomi- nated to represent the Fifth Assembly District of Hudson county and was successfully elected, defeating Harding, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket, by a plurality of 398 votes. Under the firm name of A. J. Dittmar & Son he conducts an extensive business of building contractor, and some of the finest residences in the county have been erected by his firm which, during its existence, has constructed over three hundred houses. Mr. Dittmar has nine children, five of whom are boys. Two sons are connected with him in business and the others are all engaged in mechanical pursuits.
ADAM J. DITTMAR.
WILLIAM C. HEPPENIIEIMER was born in New York City, March 27th, 1860. He was educated at Heidelberg, Germany, and graduated from Columbia College and Harvard Law Schools. He is a member of the bar of New York and of New Jersey, practicing in both States. In May, 1887, he was appointed by Governor Green an aide-de-camp on this personal military staff, with the rank of Colonel, and in 1889 he was appointed by the same Governor as Inspector-General of the National Guard. General Heppenheimer was a member of the House of Assembly of 1887, 1888, 1889, 1890, repre- senting the Fourth District of Hudson county. In 1889 he won distinction as leader of his party on the floor of the House, when he served as Chairman of the Committees on Judiciary, Militia and Treasurer's Accounts. In 1890 he was elected Speaker of the House, having received a unanimous nomination for that office in the caucus of his party. In 1891 the General was elected State Comptrol- ler to succeed Major Ander- son, after having received the unanimous nomination of his party for that office. General Ileppenheimer is WILLIAM C. HEPPENHEIMER. interested in many private and public enterprises, and his firm, Russ & Heppenheimer, is the representative of several prominent and wealthy corporations.
WILLIAM E. DRAKE was born in Penn Yan, New York, January 19th, 1855. He attended the public schools of West- ern New York until the age of twelve, when he was compelled to abandon his studies and seek employment. He, however, was enabled to attend school during the winter months, and to such good purpose did he employ his time, he was fitted to WILLIAM E. DRAKE. enter the Genessee Wesleyan Seminary, of Lima, New York, at the age of nineteen. Graduating from that institution three years later (1877), he accepted the position of teacher of natural science and bookkeeping at the Goliad College, of Goliad, Texas, remaining thus engaged for a period of two years. Returning North, he located in the city of
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