USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 56
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THOMAS FLYNN was born in Paterson, New Jersey, January 20th, 1852, and was educated at the public schools of that city. Ever since he was sixteen years of age he has prominently figured in the affairs of Paterson, politically and otherwise, from which time he has attended all the State Con- ventions of his party. He was Chairman of the Passaic county delegation to the Democratic Gubernatorial Convention which nominated Governor Ludlow. In 1881 he was nominated for the New Jersey Assembly on the Democratic ticket, and was elected by a plurality of twenty-six votes. Thus began a legislative career that gave him distinction not only as a legislator but as a thorough parliamentarian, and his reputation as being one of the shrewdest politicians in the State has been more than sus- tained. He was re-elected to the As- sembly, and filled four consecutive terms, from 1882 to 1885, inclusive. For a number of years he was Chair- man of the Passaic County Executive Committee, during which time the Re- publican majority in Passaic county was materially reduced, Mr. Flynn's position giving him charge of the local campaign. He was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention which was held at Chicago in 1884. Mr. Flynn was again a member of the As- sembly of 1892, 1893 and 1894. In the session of 1893 he was elected Speaker of the House by the unani- mous vote of his party, having met with no opposition in the caucus. His administration was marked with "un- varying patience, courtesy and impar- tiality," as expressed in a compli- mentary resolution which was unani- mously adopted. Just previous to the close of the session he was presented with a set of diamond studs by Assem- blyman Studer, Republican, as a token THOMAS FLYNN. of regard from the members of the House. Many measures of importance were pushed to success through his intelligent and industrious efforts, and during his terms of office he served as Chairman of all the important committees. Thus ended a legislative career covering a period of seven years, an honor held by only one other of New Jersey's representatives. Mr. Flynn had full charge of the opposition to the anti-gambling amendments, recently decided at special election, and almost secured a victory by quiet work against overwhelming odds.
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ALBERT D. WINFIELD was born in Vernow, Sussex county, New Jersey, June 21st, 1845. He has been a resident of the city of Paterson since 1866 and closely identified with its mercantile, social and political interests. By profession he is an accountant, and his knowledge of that calling has enabled him to more than satisfactorily fill the offices which have been his by gift of his townsmen. He was elected County Clerk of Passaic county in 1891, running on the Democratic ticket, the principles of which party he has always espoused. In 1896 he received the Democratic renomination for County Clerk of Passaic county and was elected by a majority of 1,000. It will be remembered that it was in that year that a Republican tidal-wave swept the country, and it was no small testimonial to Mr. Winfield's popularity and worth that he was the only successful Democratic candidate in Passaic county, and that, too, notwithstanding the fact that his county gave the Republican ticket a majority of 6,300. Mr. Winfield is a member of the leading societies and orders of Paterson. Heis President of Mecca Club; Past Master of Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 88; P. H. P. of Adelphic Chapter, R. A. M., No. 33; P. Ill. of M. Terry Council, No. 6 ; Past Commander Milita Commandery, No. 13; Past Grand Commander K. T. of New Jersey, and thirty- third Degree Mason, A. and A. S. Rite. ALBERT D. WINFIELD.
WILLIAM A. HOPSON, ex-Sheriff of Passaic county, was born in Paterson, New Jersey, and was educated in the public schools of that city. He then went into the harness store of his father, Charles R. Hopson, in lower Main street, Paterson, where he remained till about twenty years ago, when he bought out the Broadway harness store of James Brinkerhoof, a place that had been the location of a harness store for a great many years. Mr. Hopson has remained in business at this stand ever since, and he has become known not only to every one in Paterson, but to every farmer living within thirty miles of that city. Mr. Hopson was elected Coroner in 1884, and served in that capacity for three years, officiating during his term in many very important cases. He was appointed Postmaster of Paterson in 1891 by President Harrison, and served his full term, until April 1st, 1895, and was frequently complimented by the Department at Washington for having one of the best-managed post-offices in the country. Although hundreds of thousands of dollars passed through his hands during his incumbency of the office, there was never a discrepancy of a single cent in the accounts. Mr. Hopson has for many years been an active political worker of the Republican party of the county and State. He has been a member of the City and County Executive Committees, and assist- ant and adviser to the party in every election for fifteen or twenty years, and has always been looked WILLIAM A. HOPSON. upon as one of the stalwart workers, if not, indeed, a leader in his party. He is a large property-owner and taxpayer, and has been closely identified with several important movements and organizations for the development of the city. He was one of the organizers of the Call Printing and Publishing Company, and is at the present time one of its directors and the treasurer of the company.
II
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JAMES FLEMING STEWART was born in Paterson, New Jersey, June 15th, 1851. He is the son of David and Jane Stewart. He was educated at the public and private schools of Paterson, and subsequently attended the University of the City of New York, graduating from its law department in 1870, receiving a prize of $250 for passing the best exami- nation. He was admitted to the bar of New York City in 1872, and to the New Jersey bar in 1875 as an attorney, and as a counselor and Special Master and Examiner in Chancery in 1894. He has been three times appointed Recorder of the City of Paterson, a position he held when he was elected to Congress, but he was legislated out of office in 1892 by the Democratic Legislature, and restored in the spring of 1894 by a Republican Legislature. He resigned the office in November, 1895. Mr. Stewart was elected to Congress, from the Fifth district of New Jersey, by a majority of over 6,000. He was renominated for the Fifty-fifth Congress, and was re-elected by a majority of 10,178. This increased majority is an eloquent tribute to the able manner in which he represented his district and State dur- ing his first term in Con- gress. Mr. Stewart is a man JAMES F. STEWART. of genial temperament and recognized ability, and has hosts of friends in both the leading political parties of the State.
WILLIAM ISLWYN LEWIS was born in Paterson, New Jersey, in 1861, and was educated at the public schools of his native city. At the age of seventeen he entered the law office of the late Judge A. B. Woodruff, and began the study of law to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar as an attorney when he was only twenty-one years old, and formed a copart- nership with Mr. Woodruff, who was at that time Prosecutor of the Pleas. This partnership lasted until the latter became Judge. In the interim Mr. Lewis became a counselor-at-law. While still engaged in his studies, he served in the capacity of clerk to the grand jury, and devoted himself to the compilation WILLIAM I. LEWIS. of a digest of the laws of New Jersey which, subsequently, had the third largest sale of any publication of its kind in the State. He received the Re- publican nomination for the New Jersey Assembly in 1893, and was elected by a plurality of 2,076. He served as Chairman of the Committee on Revision of Laws, and as a member of the Committees on Corporations and Incidental Expenses. Mr. Lewis was appointed Judge of the Paterson District Court in 1896, and is counsel to the Paterson Board of Health.
JAMES ROBERTSON is a native of Scotland. He was born in Perth, and came to America when eight years of age. He owes his education to his own individual efforts, the money for which he earned by working in the lumber districts of northern JAMES ROBERTSON. New York and Canada. In 1889 he graduated from McGill University, Montreal, Canada, taking the degree of B.A., and receiving first honors in mental and moral philosophy. Mr. Robertson is an able lawyer and has been associated with John W. Griggs (now Attorney-General ) for the past four years. He was first elected to the Assembly of 1895 by a plurality of 3,480 over Thomas Flynn the Democratic candidate. He served on the Committees on Bill Revision and Judiciary, and was Chairman of the Committee on Sinking Fund. He was returned to the Assembly of 1896 by a plurality of 2,914 over Frain, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. He was unanimously made the leader of the House, and served on the Committee on Judiciary, and was Chairman of the Committee on Revision of Laws.
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JOHN HENRY BURKE, member of the Board of Freeholders of Passaic county, is a native of Paterson, New Jersey. He was born November 16th, 1866, and received his education at the public schools and at St. Mary's College, of that city. By occupation Mr. Burke is a bookkeeper and accountant, and has been employed in that capacity with the firm of Wattler & Mennell since 1888, with the exception of two years (from 1890 to 1892) when he filled the same position with the firm of Braun Brothers. While always taking an active interest in the political affairs of his native city, he was not an aspirant for office, but his well-known executive ability made him a desirable candidate for the office of freeholder, to which he was elected in 1893. He has been twice re-elected, and is now filling his third term. Mr. Burke was married in 1895 to Miss Hunkele, a daughter of ex-Alder- man Hunkele, of Newark, New Jersey. He is a member of the Eighth Ward Democratic Club, and belongs to Lodge No. 60, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
FRANK ATHERTON was born in Paterson, New Jersey, September 22d, 1860. He was educated at the public schools, and later took a course at the Paterson Business Col- JOHN H. BURKE. lege. He then served an apprenticeship in his father's ma- chine shop, becoming a skilled machinist. For two years he continued at the iron business and then branched out into the silk industry, spending five years in various departments. The practical knowledge therein gained became very valuable to him when, in 1880, he re-entered his father's service, and became interested in the manufacture of improved silk ma- chinery. In 1892 the firm was incorporated as the Atherton Machine Co., with Mr. Frank Atherton as secretary. The firm is one of importance, and its manufactures are found in the first-class mills of this and foreign countries. In the election of 1896 Mr. Atherton was elected to the New Jersey Assembly by a plurality of 5,464 votes. It was his first public office, but was filled with that ability which has marked FRANK ATHERTON. his business career. He is an active member of the Masonic Fraternity, Mecca Club, Order of Elks, Royal Arcanum and several other orders.
JAMES KEYS was born in Ireland, February 22d, 1844. His parents emigrated to this country when he was about ten years old and settled in Paterson, New Jersey. There, at the age of ten years, he entered the employ of John Ryle, the father of the silk industry of America. The factory was for- merly known as the "Gun Mill," and there was made the first Colt revolver. He remained with Mr. Ryle about a year, and then went to work for Mr. Ridgeway, who had charge of a cotton factory. He remained with him and with the Sheppard Mill until he became an expert in the cotton business. Apprenticing himself in the moulding department of the Rogers Locomotive Works, he served six years in the various depart- JAMES KEYS. ments of that trade, and was rated as the best moulder in Paterson, when he entered the government employ at the Nashville, Tennessee, armory as a maker of shot and shell. At the close of the late war he worked in the Great Western Foundry, at St. Louis, for a period of
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eighteen months, when he returned to Paterson and took employment in the New York shops of the Hudson River Railroad Company. Sickness compelled him to leave off work and secure employ- ment in outdoor work. Investing his savings in a canal boat and a team of horses, he carried iron and coal from Mauch Chunk to Jersey City, on the Lehigh and Morris Canals, until his health was completely restored. Mr. Keys was at one time the Paterson agent for Robert Beattie & Sons, the well-known brick manufacturers, of Little Falls, New Jersey, but resigned his position to take the collectorship of the Eagle Brewery, of Paterson. Mr. Keys is a lifelong Democrat, and has figured prominently in every campaign since he had a vote. During the Presidential campaigns of Tilden, Hancock and Cleveland (1884) he equipped, at his own expense, and com- manded the "Keys' Guards," an organization numbering hun- dreds of Democratic votes. From 1878 to 1880 he was a member of the Board of Chosen Freeholders, and, in the latter year, was elected Alderman from the Eighth ward of Paterson. He was re-elected at the expiration of his term to another term of two years. He was for years a member of the Democratic County Committee, and is regarded as one of the most useful working members of his party. He was a member of the New Jersey Assembly from 1887 to 1889, inclusive, and served on a number of important committees.
HENRY WILSON GLEDHILL was born in Paterson, New Jersey, November 9th, 1864. Entering Princeton College with the class of 1885, he remained there little more than a year. HENRY W. GLEDHILL. He chose the profession of law and entered the office of (now Rev. Dr. ) William Prall, at Paterson. He was admitted as an attorney-at-law in June, 1888, and as a counselor-at-law in June, 1891. Mr. Gledhill was first elected to the Assembly in 1896. He was appointed Chairman of the Committee on Commerce and Navigation, and served as a member of the Committees on Banks and Insurance, Militia and Treasurer's Accounts. In the follow- ing year he was re-elected to the Assembly by a plurality of 5,460 over the highest Democratic candidate. During his second term he served as Chairman of the Committee on Revision of the Laws and as Chairman of the Committee on Riparian Rights. Mr. Gledhill's legisla- tive career was one of marked brilliancy. Participating in all of the debates upon important measures, he was one of the heartiest supporters of the Johnson Judiciary Amendments, and was from the beginning just as strongly opposed to the Voorhees plan. He was the father of several important measures, notably the Bicycle Baggage bill, which he successfully carried through in spite of the most bitter and powerful opposition. Mr. Gledhill is a member of the Hamilton Club, of Paterson, and is one of its directors, and is a member and ex-President of the Phelps' Guards, of Paterson, New Jersey.
Woon MCKEE was born in Paterson, New Jersey, November 10th, 1866, and was educated at the public schools and at Prof. McManus' Academy, in his native city. He is a son of James W. McKee, ex-Sheriff of Passaic county and a prominent poli- WOOD MCKEE. tician of that county. Graduating from the latter institution in 1884, he began the study of law with ex-Judge Scott, of Paterson, with whom he remained until the year 1888, since which time he has been a practicing attorney, with a large clientage at the criminal and civil courts. He was elected to the New Jersey House of Assembly on the Republican ticket of 1897, and had the dis- tinction of receiving the highest vote on that ticket in Passaic county. While never having held any political office previous to this, he has been active in politics. For the past five years he has been a member of the Passaic County Republican Executive Committee and was its Vice Chairman during the Griggs and Mckinley-Hobart campaign, holding the chairmanship of several important
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committees. Mr. McKee is well known in the social circles of Paterson. He is a member of and counsel for the Calumet Republican Association, a member of the Hamilton Club, Tourist Cycle Club, Hobart Guards ; Fabolia Lodge, No. 57, K. of P. ; Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 88, F. and A. M. ; Paterson Lodge of Elks ; Silk City Conclave, No. 232, A. O. H., and Garret Rock Council, National Union. As a vocalist, he ranks among the most gifted in the State. He possesses a rich bass voice, and is a leading member of the Apollo Club of New York. He is a member of the choir of St. Paul's Church of Paterson.
CHRISTIAN BRAUN was born in Paterson, New Jersey, Sep- tember 5th, 1858. He began his early education at Tallman's Seminary, of that city, and later had the advantage of an academic course at the Industrial School of Landau, Bavaria, Germany, from which institution he graduated, after a three years' course, with first honor. His father, a native of Wurtem- berg, Germany, was the pioneer brewer of Passaic county, estab- lishing the first lager beer brewery in that county, at Paterson, in 1855. Christian, in order that he might follow his father's busi- ness, attended the Brewing Academy at Worms-on-the-Rhine, Germany, and there studied the theory of practical brewing. Later, after his return to the United States, he took a course in modern brewing at the Brewers' Academy in New York, and graduated from that institution with second honors. Upon the death of his father, in 1876, he assumed charge of his business, CHRISTIAN BRAUN. and, with his brother, who is associated with him, has increased it until now it is one of the fore- most brewing interests of its locality, being one of the most important branches of the Paterson Consolidated Brewing Company, of which concern Mr. Braun is second Vice President.
Mr. Braun was clected Mayor of Paterson, in April, 1893, by a Democratic plurality of 788, and his conservative but withal eminently progressive administration of municipal affairs so demon- strated his ability to fill the office that he was re-elected in 1895, this time with the phenomenal plurality of 3,439. Notwithstanding his desire to withdraw from politics, he was nominated for State Senator in the fall of 1897, and defeated the Republican nominee by a plurality of 2, 192.
JOHN F. KERR was born at Scranton, Pennsylvania, April 30th, 1857. He received his educa- tion at public schools, Manhattan College, New York, and at Seton Hall College, New Jersey, graduating from Seton Hall College in June, 1876. In the following July he entered the office of the late H. A. Williams (ex-Senator of Passaic county) as a law student. He was admitted to the bar of New Jersey at the November term of 1879 as an attorney, and three years later as a counselor. Mr. Kerr has ever been a strong advocate of the principles which govern the Democratic party, and his services as a public speaker have been constantly sought after by his party since the campaign of 1876, in which he was one of the most conspicuous of the political orators of Passaic county. He was elected a member of the New Jersey Assembly of 1890, and took a very active part in legislation, proving himself a ready debater. At that session he served as Chairman of the Committee on Elections, and as a member of the Committees on Bill Revision, Judiciary and the Special Committee on Ballot Reform. He was re-elected to the 1891 Assembly, and again served as Chairman of the Committee on Elections and as a member of the Committee on Bill Revision. Mr. Kerr was appointed Judge of the Paterson District Court by Gover- JOHN F. KERR. nor Abbett, and served from April 1st, 1891, to April 1st, 1896. Since then he has devoted himself to the general practice of the law, and makes a specialty of patent law, having secured American and foreign patents for many inventors in Paterson and elsewhere. He also edits and publishes a monthly periodical called "The American and Foreign Patent Review," which is now in its second ycar, and is, as its name implies, a review of the progress of inventive genius at home and abroad.
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DE WITT C. BOLTON, a prominent member of the Passaic county bar, was born in Rahway, New Jersey, June 16th, 1848. His family subsequently removed to Paterson, where he was edu- cated in the Paterson High School, and for some time was employed in a large bleaching, dyeing and printing works, of which his father was superintendent, but manifesting a predilection for the law he applied himself to its study, and at the June term of 1881 he was admitted to the bar and soon took his rank among the best lawyers of the city, gaining a fair share of legal practice. He was licensed as a counselor at the June term, 1884. Mr. Bolton was elected to the New Jersey House of Assembly in 1885. In the House he was Chairman of the Committee on Unfinished Business and a member of the Committees on Municipal Corporations and Re- vision of Laws. In 1886 he was re-elected to the Assembly, and was again Chairman of the Committees on Unfinished Busi- ness and Revision of Laws. He has been a prominent member of the Passaic County Republican Committee for years, and is now its chairman, and was a member of the Board of Public Works of Paterson, from the time it was organized until it was abolished by the Legisla- DE WITT C. BOLTON. ture, and has been counsel of the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Passaic county since 1892. Mr. Bolton is prob- ably second to none in his knowledge of local politics, and unquestionably wields much influence in the political affairs of the county. Mr. Bolton is a Past Grand Chancellor of the Knights of Pythias, and is now one of the three representatives from this State to the Supreme Lodge of this large and growing order.
EUGENE EMLEY was born in New Hanover township, Burling- ton county, New Jersey, June 4th, 1855. He is the son of Edward Emley, former Sheriff of that county. He was edu- cated at Bucknell University, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, from which he graduated in 1877. Adopting law as a profession, he entered the office of Holt & Brother, Trenton, New Jersey, with whom he spent two EUGENE EMLEY. years, finishing his studies the next year with Gaskill & Sooy, of Mount Holly, and was admitted to the bar at the November term, 1880. In January, 1881, he removed to Paterson, where he has since resided and has become prominently identified with its interests. He was admitted as counselor in January, 1884. He was made Prosecutor of the Pleas for Passaic county in April, 1896, an office he now fills. In 1886 he ran for the Assembly, and was defeated by a single vote owing to the apathy of his friends, who felt his election was an assured fact. In the year fol- lowing he again was a candidate for that office, and was elected by a sweeping majority over the successful candidate of the year previous. Mr. Emley is second Vice President of the Hamilton Club of Paterson, and has his office in the First National Bank building of that city.
ALBERT A. VAN VOORHIES was born in Bergen county, New ALBERT A. VAN VOORHIES. Jersey, January 26th, 1834, and was educated in the public schools of Paterson. He began his business career as a mason and rose to the position of boss mason, following that trade for a period of ten years, and leaving it to open a hotel, in which business he is still engaged. In public affairs Mr. Van Voorhies has ever taken an active part, and while in
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office has more than demonstrated his fitness for the position he held. In 1867 he was elected to the New Jersey Assembly, and in the following year he was re-elected to the same office. In 1878 he was nominated for Sheriff of Passaic county, and was elected by an overwhelming majority. He ably filled that important position for three years. It was during that period that Dalzell murdered Van Houten during a riot in the mountains. Mr. Van Voorhies pursued him and captured him, landing him safely in the Newark jail. Mr. Van Voorhies was a member of the Passaic County Board of Freeholders in 1868, and it was during his occupancy of that office that the work of build- ing iron bridges was inaugurated and first built at Paterson. He is a member of the Order of Elks, and belongs to Orange Lodge, No. 43, F. and A. M., holding the office of Junior Warden.
PHINEAS BRIDGE was born in Paterson, New Jersey, May 1st, 1857. He was educated at the public schools of that city and completed his education by taking a course in Miller's Business College. Energetic by nature and possessed of a robust constitution, he was early in life able to be of much assistance to his father, who was engaged in the ice busi -- ness. Since 1870 he has been thus employed, succeeding his father in the concern of the Haledon Lake Ice Company. In public affairs he has always taken an active interest. He was Trustee and Secretary of School District No. 36, Manchester township, during the years 1886, 1887 and 1888, and the able manner in which he conducted affairs had its effect in his sub- PHINEAS BRIDGE. sequent election to the Board of Chosen Freeholders, to which office he was elected from the same township for three years, 1892, 1893 and 1894. In the elec- tion of 1896 Mr. Bridge was elected to the Assembly by a plurality of 5,191 over Dunn, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket. In the House he served on the Joint Committee on Public Grounds and Buildings, and was a member of the Committees on Engrossed Bills and Unfinished Business.
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