USA > New Jersey > Mercer County > Trenton > History of Trenton, New Jersey : the record of its early settlement and corporate progress. > Part 60
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CHARLES A. BENNETT, ex-Judge of the Common Pleas Court of Monmouth county, and a leading member of the bar and a prominent citizen of Freehold, New Jersey, is the sixth son of William H. and Jane Leffertson Bennett. He was born in Freehold, June 4th, 1820. He prepared for college in his native town, and entered Princeton College, from which he graduated with the degree of A.B. in 1844, subsequently re- ceiving the degree of A.M. He took up law as a profession, and was admitted to the bar in 1847, and as a counselor in 1851, beginning the practice of law in Freehold. In 1850 he connected himself with the Surrogate's office, where for eighteen years he was the acting Surrogate. In 1882 Mr. Bennett was CHARLES A. BENNETT. appointed Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, by Governor Ludlow, and occupied that position for ten years. Judge Ben- nett has held many prominent and important positions. Hc has been Secretary of the Monmouth County Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1859 ; is Secretary and Treasurer of the Freehold Gas Light Association, and an incorporator and director of the First National Bank, of Freehold. In politics Judge Bennett is a staunch Democrat. He was married September 28th, 1854, to Eleanor B. Clayton, daughter of Elias C. and Louisa M. Clayton. His only surviving child, Frederick D., is a prominent merchant of Freehold.
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ALFRED LEIDA FLUMMERFELT was born in Polkville, Warren county, New Jersey, November 17th, 1849. He received a good education, and early in life started upon his business career. He chose the life of carpenter as his calling, and by careful attention to business was enabled to branch out for himself as a contractor and builder, a line he now successfully follows in his native town. Some time ago Mr. Flummerfelt added the business of funeral director to his regular occupation. He is a man of unusual geniality of temperament and of a disposition entirely at variance with that supposed to be possessed by one who follows that line of busi- ness. Nevertheless, his venture proved successful, and now forms an important adjunct to his business. While he has ever been foremost in the political situations of his county and a careful student of the conditions of the time, he never held public office until elected to the Assembly of 1896, on the Democratic ticket. He served on the Committees on Agricul- ture and Unfinished Business. He was re-elected to the As- sembly of 1897 by a plurality of 943 over Cornell, the highest candidate on the Republican ticket, and served on the Com- mittees on Unfinished Business and Engrossed Bills. He was again re-elected to the Assembly of 1898. Mr. Flummerfelt comes of legislative stock. His grandfather, George Flummer- felt (now deceased), was a member of the New Jersey House of Assembly from Warren county in 1836. Both sessions of the Legislature were hopelessly Republican, but, in spite of that, Mr. Flummerfelt ably represented his constituents, and suc- ALFRED L. FLUMMERFELT. ceeded in passing bills that were of importance to his county and helped to defeat others that were inimicable to its interests.
JUDGE JOHN D. BARTINE was born near Princeton, New Jersey, in 1836, and was educated at the high school at Lawrenceville, New Jersey, completing the course of study in 1858. For several years succeeding his graduation he taught school, and in 1861 began the study of law in the office of J. F. Hageman, at Princeton. He was admitted to the bar in 1865, and in that year removed to Somerville, where he has since resided. His ability as an attorney and counselor was soon recognized, and he rapidly acquired a large practice before the courts. While in active practice he was counsel in nearly all the important cases tried in Somerset county, such as the celebrated Van Arsdale murder case, the Van Derveer will case, the Ten Eyck and Runk water- right case and the Cory case. In 1885 he was appointed Law Judge of Somerset county, and in 1890 re-appointed to the same office, and was again re-appointed in 1895. It is an clo- quent commentary upon his carefulness, wisdom and intimate knowledge of the law that in no single instance has there been a reversal of his decisions that have been taken to a higher court. He has been a member of the local Board of Education and of the Board of Commissioners, acting as presiding officer of both bodies. He has also been Prosecutor of the Pleas for Somerset county. The degree of Master of Arts was conferred upon him by Princeton College in 1868, and in the same year he married Miss Van Derveer, of Rocky Hill. Two children JOHN D. BARTINE. blessed the union, the elder married the daughter of the Rev. S. Harris, the rector of St. John's Church, at Somerville. Judge Bartine has made many friends on the bench with the ablest representatives of the bar of the country. While the record shows that he advocates the adminis- tration of the full penalty of the law upon habitual criminals, his decisions are always given without partiality and liis judgment rendered with rare discrimination. His sociability and cordiality have made him many friends among all classes, without regard to party affiliations.
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RODERICK A. CLARK was born in Great Bend, Pennsylvania, January 25th, 1844, and is by occupation a yacht builder. He enlisted in the army August 11th, 1862, in Company F, Four- teenth New Jersey Volunteers. At the battle of Monocacy, July 9th, 1864, he was badly wounded and left on the field for dead. He was shot through the right lung and left ankle, the shot in his ankle necessitating the am- 7 putation of the leg below the knee. For some time his life was despaired of, but, thanks to a more than usual rugged constitu- tion, he survived the ordeal, and has since his discharge, on September 3d, 1865, lived a life of active usefulness. Mr. Clark has resided in Ocean county since 1849, and has taken an active and prominent part in the affairs of Brick township, in which he lives. In 1872 he was elected to the Township Committee, and served four years. At the end of that period he was elected Chosen Freeholder, in which capacity he acted three years. He was elected Collector of Taxes for Brick township in 1888, and still holds that position. Mr. Clark was elected to the Assembly of 1897 by a plurality of 2,367 votes over Hoyt, the highest can- didate on the Democratic ticket.
He was re-elected for the fol- lowing year. He was Chair- man of the Committee on Claims and Revolutionary RODERICK A. CLARK. Pensions and served on the Committees on Engrossed Bills, Boroughs and Borough Commissions and Militia. He is a member of Arnold Post, No. 87, G. A. R., in which he has served as Post Commander, Adjutant and Quartermaster. Mr. Clark is the owner and proprietor of "Clark's Landing," on the Manasquan river, where many go to enjoy the fine boating, fishing and crabbing.
ISAAC S. METTLER was born in New Brunswick, New Jer- sey, January 12th, 1831. He enlisted at Jersey City, New Jersey, in June, 1862, in the Twenty-first New Jersey Volun- teers. He participated in the battles of Fredericksburgh, Mayre's Heights and Chancellorsville. He served as Lieutenant Colonel of his regiment from ISAAC S. METTLER. its organization, and was honorably discharged Sep- tember, 1863. He is a member of Van Houten Post, No. 3, G. A. R., Jersey City. Mr. Mettler was for many years engaged in the fire insurance business. He was Secretary of the Mer- chants' Fire Insurance Company, of New York, until 1889, at which time the company retired from business.
DANIEL ELLSWORTH VAN WICKLE was born in Marlboro, New Jersey, April 25th, 1862. Upon the completion of his education he began his business career as a coal merchant, and is now one of the largest wholesale dealers in the county. Ever since he could vote he has taken an interest in municipal and State poltitics, and has filled with much credit offices of political importance and trust which are not usually intrusted to one of his years. In 1887 he was elected to the Board of Commission- ers of Matawan, and has ever since been a member of that com- DANIEL E. VAN WICKLE. mission. He at present fills the office of Mayor of the borough, to which he was elected in 1892. He was nominated to represent Monmouth county in the House of Assembly of 1897, and was elected by a plurality of 2,075 votes over Heyer, the highest candi- date on the Democratic ticket. He served on the Committees on Engrossed Bills and Militia.
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DANIEL WINTERS HAGERTY was born in Bangor, Pennsylvania, April 15th, 1850. His parents removed to Phillipsburg when he was about five years old, and he has ever since resided there. He received what education was afforded by the public schools and finished his studies at Stevens' Business College, at Easton, Pennsylvania. In politics Mr. Hagerty is a Democrat, and has held many offices of trust as the gift of his party. For three years he was a member of the City Council, acting as Chairman of the Committees on Fire, Law and Ordinance, and serving as a member of several other committees. To him is largely owing the present efficient fire service of his city. He was elected to the 1890 Assembly by a plurality of 1,077 votes over Black, the highest candidate on the Republican ticket. He was re-elected to the 1891 Assembly by a vote of 2,250, having no opposing candidate. He was again re-elected to his third consecutive term, receiving a plurality of 509 votes. During his term of office he served as Chairman of the Committee on Claims and Pensions and as a member of the Committees on Stationery, Incidental Expenses, Labor and In- dustries and Bill Revision. His vote was always cast for the best interests of the working and trading classes of people. He took an active part and voted DANIEL W. HAGERTY. against the bill known as the Coal Combine bill, and also against the bill creating a Chief of Police for the State. By trade Mr. Hagerty is a carpenter. In 1871 he went into the lumber and saw mill business, and has been very successful.
GEORGE W. DE MEZA was born in Hartford, Connecticut, on February 16th, 1871. Since childhood he has lived in Plain- field, New Jersey, where he attended school until twelve years of age, when he began his business carcer. His father dying three years later, he was thrown upon his own resources. In the interim he studied hard, taking lessons at private schools and perfecting himself in the higher branches and foreign lan- guages. At the age of seventeen years he entered the law office of Jackson & Codington. He soon gave evidence of more than usual aptitude for the prac- ticc of law, and very shortly GEORGE W. DE MEZA. afterwards represented that firm in the courts of justice. He was admitted to the bar November 3d, 1892, on motion made by Corporation Counsel Craig A. Marsh, and his career since has been one of unexampled success for one of his years. On last November (1896) he was elected to the office of City Judge, running 300 votes ahead of his ticket. Judge De Meza is the youngest office holder in Plainfield and the youngest lawyer known in the State. His entire career is a fine example of what can be accomplished by a young man through his own efforts. The Judge has a handsome suite of offices in the Serrell Building, employing three clerks and a stenographer, and has one of the best and most complete law libraries in the State of New Jersey.
CHARLES ARTHUR REED was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, CHARLES A. REED. December 4th, 1857. He removed to Somerset county, New Jersey, when a boy, and was educated at the public schools and at Rutgers College, New Brunswick, in the Class of '78. His early life, from 1866 to 1882, was passed upon a farm. In the latter year he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey, and practiced law at Somerville until 1887 and in the city of Plainfield ever since. In 1883 he was appointed a Special
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Examiner of the United States Pension Bureau, and so served until July, 1885. Since 1888 he has served as Corporation Counsel of the borough of North Plainfield. As a lawyer he holds a high rank, and has a very large practice in the counties of Somerset and Union. He was elected to the Assembly of 1896 by a plurality of 587 votes, receiving the largest majority ever given in North Plainfield (his home) to any candidate on any ticket. He was Chairman of the Committee on Incidental Expenses and served on the Committee on Industrial School for Girls. He was nominated for the State Senate in 1896. The whole force of the Democratic opposition was concentrated against him, but he received an increased majority over the year before, his plurality in the county being 1,390 votes over Cramer, the highest Demo- cratic candidate. Senator Reed was Chairman of the Senate Committee on Boroughs and Borough Commissions and served on the Committees on Revision of Laws and Riparian Rights.
JAMES E. MARTINE was born in New York in 1847, and has resided in Plainfield, New Jersey, since he was nine years of age. His father died when James was thirteen years old, so his early education was confined to the public schools. But he was pre- cocious beyond his years, and, even at so young an age, was able to look after the interests of Cedar Brook Farm, where he still resides. In politics he is a staunch Democrat, and from early boyhood his voice has literally been heard in defence of its prin- ciples. He was possessed of a natural gift of eloquence, and before he had reached his majority he had become a factor in JAMES E. MARTINE. politics and has remained so ever since. At the age of eighteen years, at the request of Governor Randolph, he made his first stump speech, and since that time every campaign has found him on the rostrum advocating the cause of Democracy. His services as a political orator are always in demand by State and National Committees, and his campaign ser- vices have extended over New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In the conventions of his own party he has always been a potent factor, both in State and county. The platform of the State convention (1896) was drawn by him, and accepted by the convention without protest. He was formerly a member of the Common Council of Plainfield, and to his agitation of the question of "raised track" was due its ultimate consummation. Mr. Martine ran for the Assembly in 1877, but was defeated by Joseph B. Coward. He was twice nominated for State Senator, and, while defeated, came out of the contest as popular as ever. In private life he is a farmer and familiarly called "Farmer Jim," and is widely known as the " Farmer Orator."
JOHN RINGLEMAN was born in Bavaria, Germany, town of Wurzburg, April 14th, 1833. His father carried on an extensive shoe business, and ranked among the most successful merchants of the town. At the age of seventeen Mr. Ringleman went to Munich, where he followed his trade of merchant tailor. Here he remained for three years, when he came to America, in 1858, and settled in New York, and in the year 1854 permanently located in Somerville, New Jersey. In 1860 he was married to a Miss Backer, of Wyoming, Pennsylvania, five children bless- ing their union. Just previous to the breaking out of the Re- JOHN RINGLEMAN. bellion he embarked in business for himself, and, in spite of the critical times, it proved very successful. At times he has had as many as thirty hands employed. Mr. Ringleman has held numerous offices in his town, having been Commissioner of Appeals for several years. He was a member of the One Hundred and Second, One Hundred and Third and One Hundred and Fourth Legislatures, where he served on several important committees. He is a member of Solomon Lodge, F. and A. M .; Keystone Chapter, R. A. M .; Trinity Commandery, K. of T., and is Senior Warden of St. John's Episcopal Church, of Somerville.
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GEORGE HENRY TICE was born at Perth Amboy, New Jersey, November 14th, 1845, and has lived there all his life. He received his education at the public schools, and began his business career as a blacksmith. He is now in the clay business and general agent of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, of New York. He has been a man of public affairs all his life, and in all the positions and offices held by him he has proven himself thoroughly conscientious in the discharge of his duties. He was a member of the Board of Education from April, 1878, to April, 1880, and again from April, 1883, to April, 1885. He was elected a member 7 of the Board of Freeholders in May, 1880, for the one-year term. Under the appointment of President Harrison he was Postmaster of Perth Amboy from February, 1890, to May, 1894, when he resigned. During his incumbency he started the free-delivery system. He was a member of the Assembly for 1895, carrying his county by a plurality of 1,274. IIe served on the Commit- tecs on Education and Incidental Expenses and was Chairman of the Committee on School for Deaf- Mutcs. He was re-elected to the Assembly of 1896 by a plurality of 804 over Muirhead, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket, and served on the Committees on Corporations, Railroads and Canals and State Appropriations and was Chairman of the Committee on Reform School.
JAMES J. BERGEN was born in Somerville, Somerset county, New Jersey, October 1st, 1847. He was educated at the old GEORGE H. TICE. brick academy and at Butler's Seminary, Somerville. He began the study of law in 1864 in the office of H. M. Gaston, and four years later was admitted to the bar. On January 1st, 1870, he formed a partnership with Mr. Gaston, which lasted for a period of twenty years, the dissolution taking place on January 1st, 1890. From 1877 to 1883 he served as Prosecutor of the Pleas of Somerset county. He has been a member of the Board of Commissioners of Somerville since May, 1885, and has been President of that body since May, 1890. In the public affairs of his native town Mr. Bergen has taken a deep interest, and Somer- ville owes much to him in the way of improvements. Ordinances were passed regulating the fire and police departments through his instrumentality, and the present complete sewerage system of that town is directly due to his persistent and untiring energy. Mr. Bergen was first elected to the New Jersey Assembly in the fall of 1875, and re-elected the following year. He was again a candidate in 1890, and was elected by a plurality of 448 votes over Mr. Schomp, the Republican candidate. At the opening of the session of 1891 he was elected Speaker of the House by the unanimous vote of his party, and discharged the duties of that office with such ability and impartiality as to call forth a special resolution from the members of the House at the close of the session. He was re-elected to the Assembly of 1892, and was again unanimously elected Speaker of the House. Mr. Bergen still practices law, and is universally admired and re- spected throughout the State.
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CHARLES C. HENDRICK, M. D., is a native of Phillipsburg, Warren county, New Jersey, being born in that town February 5th, 1871. He is a son of Christopher Hendrick, an efficient railroad engineer, who took to Mexico and put up and run JAMES J. BERGEN. the first locomotive ever run in that country. Returning to the States he settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and from thence to Phillipsburg, at which place he died from injuries received in a railroad wreck in 1870. Charles first attended school at his native town and then completed the course at Seton Hall College, South Orange, New Jersey, graduating with honors with the Class of '91. He then began the medical course at the Bellevue Medical College, of New York, from which he received his diploma in 1894. At the present time
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he holds the office of Medical Health Inspector of Hudson county, to which office he was ap- pointed July 16th, 1895. Mr. Hendrick has a decided inclination towards a legal life. He studied law under Peter Hendrick, of New York, and was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1897. He is a devotee of athletic sports. In his college days he was catcher for the 'Varsity team at Seton Hall for two seasons, and in 1892 played professional base-ball at Albany with the Eastern League. Mr. Hendrick is an able stump speaker, and ardently espoused the Bryan cause. He is a member of the Robert Davis and M. T. Coyle Association.
EDWARD WALDRON HICKS was born in the city of New Brunswick, New Jersey, November 19th, 1868. He was edu- cated in the public schools of that city and took a special classi- cal course preparatory for entering college. Changing his plans, he at once commenced the study of law, to which he applied himself to such good purpose that he was admitted to the bar as an attorney in February, 1890, at the age of twenty-one, and three years later, at the November term, he was admitted as a counselor, at which time he had built up a lucrative practice. Mr. Hicks represented Middlesex county in the Assembly of 1895. He was elected by a plurality of 1,367, his total vote being 7,370. In the House he served on the Committees on Revision of Laws and Stationery, was Chairman of the Com- mittee on Passed Bills and also a member of the Republican Joint Advisory, or "Steering," Committee. In the following EDWARD W. HICKS. year he was returned to the Legislature by a plurality of 768 over Muirhead, the highest candidate on the Democratic ticket, and served on the Committees on Revision of Laws, Education and Stationery, was Chairman of the Committee on Labor and Indus- tries and a member of the Joint Committee on Clergy. Mr. Hicks is an able debater, with a thorough knowledge of parliamentary tactics, and took an active part in all matters of importance that came before the House. During his second term he was frequently called upon to preside during the absence of the Speaker. He is a member of Middlesex Encampment, No. 43; New Brunswick Boat Club and other organizations ; Past Grand of New Brunswick Lodge, No. 6, I. O. O. F., and Chairman of the Committee on Laws of Sub- ordinates of the Grand Lodge I. O. O. F. of New Jersey.
ABRAHAM T. HUFF was born near Neshanic, Somerset county, New Jersey, on the banks of the south branch of the Raritan, June 23d, 1836. His father, Tunis Huff, was a car- penter and contracting bridge builder and later a farmer. He died at Neshanic, July 6th, 1857, aged sixty years, and was a descendant in the fifth generation from Pieter Hof, who, together with his wife, Katalyntje Broucard, daughter of the Huguenot, Bourgon Broucard, was permanently settled on the east side of the Millstone river, at its junction with the Raritan, as early as 1707, upon land bought from the Willox tract. He attended the preparatory school of Rev. Dr. John Van Derveer, at Easton, Pennsylvania, for four years, between April, 1848, and April, 1853, and entered Rutgers College in May, 1853, in the third term of the Sophomore year, graduating in 1855. After gradua- ABRAHAM T. HUFF. tion he returned to his father's home and farm, at Neshanic, to prepare himself for the life of a working farmer. On November 3d, 1857, he married Phebe H., daughter of Rev. Dr. Gabriel Ludlow, then pastor of the Reformed Dutch Church, at Neshanic, and permanently settled upon the homestead farm of his father. He was a member of the New Jersey Assembly in 1868. In November, 1887, he was elected Surrogate of Somerset county for the term of five years, and in November, 1892, was again elected Surrogate for another term of five years. He is a Democrat in politics, with liberal views. He has one child living, Tunis A. Huff, who is also a farmer.
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ABRAM C. HOLDRUM was born in Orangeburgh, Rockland county, New York, September 23d, 1837. He was educated in the public schools of that county, from which he was subsequently appointed to the State Normal School, at Albany, New York. Up to the year 1872, and for a period of nearly twenty years, he was engaged in business in New York, at which time he removed to Bergen county, his present place of residence. Since his advent in that county he has been honored by nearly every position of trust within the gift of the county and State. He is a Com- missioner of Deeds and Notary Public for both New Jersey and New York. Hc has held the office of School Trustce for over twenty years, and most of that time being District Clerk. In 1879 he was elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders of Ber- gen county, and was the first Republican representative from Washington township. In 1880, and again in 1890, he was appointed to take the United States census. In the latter ycar he was appointed, under the law by the Governor, a member of the County Board of Elections, in which he served as Secretary until his election to the Assembly of 1897. He has been Presi- dent of the Bergen County Farmers' Mutual Fire Insurance Company since 1891, and is President of the Progressive Build- ing and Loan Association, of Hillsdale, New Jersey. He was appointed Postmaster of Westwood in 1895, and still retains the Vice Presidency of the Bergen County Board of Agriculture and is a delegate to the State Board. He was a member of the Republican County Executive Committee of Bergen county for ABRAM C. HOLDRUM. a number of years, and in 1896 was made Vice Chairman of the committee. Mr. Holdrum was elected to the Assembly by a plurality of 3,633 over Van Emburg, the highest Democratic candidate. He served on the Committees on Game and Fisheries and Revi- sion of Laws, and his entire legislative career was marked by a careful, intelligent and comprehensive attention to the business of the House. Mr. Holdrum was re-elected to the Assembly of 1898 by a majority of 808 votes over Mr. Fellows, the Democratic candidate.
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