USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 17
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when he was united to Miss Selina O. Jett, daughter of Rev. W. A. L. Jett, of Washington, Rappahannock county, Virginia.
WALTER E. CLADEK, M. D.,
has attained considerable distinction as a skilled physician in his native city of Rahway, where he is now successfully engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery. He was born on the 13th of May 1856, and is of Hungarian lineage, his father being a political refugee, who after the revolution of 1848-9, fled from Hungary, in 1850, and took up his residence in Rahway. The Doctor attended the public schools of his native city, and on making choice of a profession which he wished to follow as a life work, determined on the medical. He began his prepara- tion as a student in the office of Dr. Samuel Abernethy, and completed his studies under the direction of Dr. J. J. Daly. He then entered the medical department of the University of the City of New York, and was graduated with the degree of M. D. in the class of 1877.
For a year and a half thereafter Dr. Cladek was one of the physicians in the Charity Hospital on Blackwell's Island, and for six months was in the Hospital for Epileptics and Paralytics. He then returned to Rahway, opened an office and has since successfully engaged in practice. His understanding of the principles and methods of medical practice is accurate and comprehensive, and his skill and ability have found recognition in a liberal and constantly increasing patronage. He is also connected with the Newark Charitable Eye and Ear Infirmary, as one of the attending surgeons.
The Doctor has pleasant home relations, having been happily inarried, in 1894, to Mrs. Anstes (Van Campen) Cabell. They now have a little daughter, two years old (1897).
DANIEL CORY ADAMS, M. D.,
in the practice of his chosen profession has won distinctive preferment by reason of his skill and ability, and from the faithful performance of each day's duty he gains strength and inspiration for the labors of the next. A close, earnest and analytical student, he has carried his investi- gations far and wide into the realms of medical science, and has gleamed therefrom many valuable truths which have enabled him to maintain a foremost place in the medical fraternity of Union county.
Born in Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1865, Dr. Adams is a son of Jacob P. and Phoebe E. (Cory) Adams, both whom were representa- tives of old and honored families of the state. His ancestors lived in the provinces of Alsace and Lorain, and were of French-German stock. Coming to America at an early period in the history of the republic, they
DANIEL C. ADAMS, M. D.
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located in New Jersey, where their descendants still reside. Jacob P. Adams was for a number of years a member of the old mercantile firin of Battelle & Renwick, doing business in Front street, New York, and for many years he was treasurer and manager of the fire department of Plainfield, New Jersey. In Somerset county he was united in marriage to Miss Phoebe E. Cory, and located in North Plainfield, where they spent their remaining days. Mrs. Adamns also belonged to one of the prominent families whose ancestral history was closely connected with the early events of the state, and whose homestead has been occupied by representatives of the name for an entire century. Her death occurred January 18, 1882, and Mr. Adams, surviving only a few months, passed away on the 3d of December, of that year.
Dr. Adams spent his early years in Somerset county, and attended the public schools until fourteen years of age, when he entered the Plainfield Academy, pursuing his studies in that institution for three years. The next two years were passed as a student in the School of Mines, a department of Columbia College, and after making choice of the profession of medicine as a life work, he pursued a course of lectures in the New York Homeopathic Medical College and Hospital, of New York city, in which institution he took his degree of M. D. in 1890. In the same year le located in Plainfield, where he has built up a lucrative practice.
The Doctor takes an active interest in civic societies and is a very prominent Mason, having taken the chapter and commandery degrees in that fraternity, and also joined the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine. He has served as Worshipful Master of the lodge, and Eminent Commander of the commandery, and High Priest of the chapter. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias fraternity and to organizations of a more purely social character, including the Park Club, the Plainfield Bicycle Club, and the Crescent Wheelinen. He is also an active member of the board of trade of Plainfield.
In 1886 Dr. Adams was united in marriage to Miss Frances U. Honeyman, also belonging to one of the old families of Somerset county, New Jersey. Two children grace this union : Helen Frances and Daniel Cory. The Doctor and his wife occupy an enviable position in social circles, and their home is a favorite resort with many friends. The Doctor belongs to the First Baptist church of Plainfield, and is a pleasant, courteous gentleman, whose sterling qualities of head and heart make him one of the most popular citizens of Union county.
THOMAS E. DOLAN, M. D.,
city physician of the city of Elizabeth, was appointed to that position in 1896 and re-elected in 1897, and is a worthy representative of his
IO
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profession. His father, the late Michael Dolan, and his maternal grandfather, John Rehill, were both prominent railroad contractors.
Dr. Dolan was born in Elizabeth, May 10, 1864. He attended the public schools until fifteen years of age and finished his education in Ireland, the home of his father, and, returning to the United States, began the study of medicine with Professor William H. Pancoast, of Philadelphia. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, and was graduated at that inititution in 1886. He then spent nearly one year in the west, and upon his return spent a year in the Jefferson Medical Hospital. He was appointed physician on the American Line of steamers and was in that service four years. In 1892 he went out to Lebau, Russia, upon the "Indiana," carrying the first load of supplies to the famine-stricken people of that nation.
Dr. Dolan opened an office in Elizabeth in 1893, and has devoted himself assiduously to his profession.
In politics Dr. Dolan is a Democrat, and is one of the counselors of his party in Elizabeth. He has been twice named for coroner. He is a member of the County Medical Society and visiting physician to the Alexian Hospital, of Elizabeth.
. THOMAS J. JACKSON, M. D.
It is much to achieve success ; it is infinitely more to win the gratitude of the suffering and afflicted. In this community there is, perhaps, no one who in this regard has greater reason for content than Dr. Jackson, of Springfield. Seven years of devoted labor here have placed him among the few who may be said to be at the head of the medical profession in the county, and such has been the cordial, kindly generous manner of his ministration that in the hearts of those who have received it there is a sense of grateful recognition that words can not express.
Dr. Jackson is a native of Maryland, where his birth occurred on the 13th of July, 1853. He acquired liis early education in Milton Academy, of that state, and was subsequently a student in the Univer- sity of Virginia. Determining to make the practice of medicine his life work, he began preparing for the profession nnd was graduated in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Baltimore, with the class of 1879. In the same year he opened an office and entered upon his pro- fessional duties in Harford county, Maryland, where he remained until 1890, when he came to Springfield, New Jersey. In his new field of labor he has won a well merited success, his knowledge of the science of medicine and his readiness in adapting its principles to the needs of suffering humanity, gaining him a skill which assures him a place in the foremost rank among his professional brethren. He is a member of several medical societies, and thereby keeps in touch with the
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progress which is constantly being made in the profession. He now belongs to the New Jersey State Medical Society, the Union County Medical Society and the American Medical Association. The Doctor is now serving as president of the board of education of Springfield, and is deeply interested in the cause of the schools, doing all in his power, in his official capacity and as a private citizen, to advance their welfare. He is also vice-president of the board of Millburn and Springfield, and gives an active co-operation to all movements tending to the good of the community. Socially he is a member of Northampton Lodge, A. F. & A. M., of Northampton county, Virginia;
THOMAS J. JACKSON, M. D.
belongs to Concordie Chapter, R. A. M., of Baltimore ; and to Monu- mental Commandery, No. 3, K. T., also of that city. He is medical director of Fraternal Union, of Summit, New Jersey. The Doctor was united in marriage to Miss Annie S. Mapp, adaughter of Victor A. Mapp, Sr., of Northampton county, Virginia, and to them have been born three children. His honorable connection with the medical profession and his irreproachable character in all the walks of life have gained him a large circle of warin friends, whose number is constantly increasing.
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UNION COUNTY BUILDINGS
CHAPTER XIV.
HISTORY OF THE COURTS OF UNION COUNTY. *
LIZABETH being the county seat of Union county, the pub- lic buildings of the latter are all within its limits. The court house, county offices and jail occupy commodious quarters on the site of the old town house. The court room is large and well ventilated, and has an annex library provided by the Union County Bar Association. The jail, in the rear, has all the modern requirements of capacity, cleanliness and security. The rooms of the surrogate and the board of freeholders afford ample accommoda- tions. The county clerk's office has a fire-proof hall of records, con- structed of stone and iron.
As early as 1868 mention is made of the town house. Here, on May 26th of that year, the first general assembly of the province met, and it was the meeting place of subsequent assemblies. In those days it was also the meeting house, the Quakers then in possession of the town having no prejudice against their place of worship being used for secular purposes. The act of 1682, for the establishment of county courts, provided that the "County of Essex Session " should be held "in the publick meeting house of Elizabethtown " twice a year. In May, 1671, the first jury trial was held in the town house, a special court having been convened by the provincial governor for the trial of Captain William Hackett, of the sloop "Indeavor," for illegal trading in the province. The defendant was his own counsel. The first jury disagreed and the second convicted, a warning, at the very start of Union county practice, against such conceit or poor economy. The British made a raid from Staten Island on June 25, 1780, and burned the town house and jail, with other buildings. No attempt was made to rebuild until 1789, when, following speculative means used at that time to build the church and academy, a lottery was started to raise the necessary twenty-five hundred pounds. The prizes aggregated seven thousand four hundred and seventy-two pounds, and thirteen thousand eight hundred tickets were sold, divided into three classes, at one, two and three dollars a ticket. There were hitches in the scheme, and it was several years before its affairs were straightened out and the building was erected. In 1808 the building was again food for the flames, and was built again and occupied in 1810. With improve-
* The following history of the courts of Union county is from the pen of Henry R. Cannon, M. D., who was clerk of the county for the first twenty-five years of its existence.
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ments, alterations and additions from time to time, it is the court house of to-day. Some few years after the creation of Union county, in 1857, the wing occupied by the county clerk's office, the chamber of the board of freeholders, and the hall of records was added on the site of the old cannon house and fire-engine and truck quarters.
Union county was created by an act of the legislature, approved March 19, 1857 ; the act to take effect on the second Monday of April, 1857 (April 13, 1857). All the territory embraced in the county was taken from the county of Essex. By the act the sheriff and _coroners of the county of Essex were to remain in office until the next ensuing state election, and to exercise their power and authority over the limits of the new county. By a subsequent act of the legislature, approved March 21, 1857, the borough court was abolished. The parties actively interested in the formation of the county entered into an agreement that the officers to be appointed for the new county should be equally divided between the two political parties, and that there should also be an equal division between the friends and opponents of the forination of the county. Under this agreement the following appointments were made, viz .: George W. Savage, of Rahway ; Apollos M. Elmer, of Elizabeth ; and Theodore Pierson, of Springfield, were appointed judges of the inferior court of common pleas. John Joseph Chetwood, of Elizabeth, was appointed prosecutor of the pleas ; Henry R. Can- non, of Plainfield, was appointed county clerk ; Jonathan Valentine, of New Providence, was appointed surrogate.
Under the provision of the act, Edward Pierson, sheriff of the county of Essex, was authorized to discharge the duties of that office in the new county until the next general election. The county clerk and surrogate were to hold office until the next election. As an induce- ment for them to take the offices, the friends of the new county guaranteed their election in the fall. The officers so appointed entered upon their duties April 13, 1857. By agreement the county of Union was placed in the circuit of Daniel Haines, justice of the supreme court. The first term of court of the new county was held on the first Tuesday of May, 1857. Hon. Daniel Haines, justice of the supreme court, presided. Judges Savage, Elmer and Pierson were present. James B. Burnett was chosen foreman of the first grand jury of the county. No business of importance appearing, the court was speedily closed for the term.
The board of freeholders met for the first time in the month of May, and elected the following officers, viz .: James B. Burnett, director ; Moses M. Crane, collector ; and Oliver Pierce, clerk.
The following is the list of officers of the county of Union from April 13, 1857, to the present time, i. e., January 1, 1897 :
PRESIDENT JUDGES OF THE COURTS .- Hon. Daniel Haines, judge of supreme court, from April 13, 1857, to December 4, 1866; Hon. David A. Depue, from December
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4, 1866, to September 7, 1875 ; Hon. Bennet Van Syckle, from September 7, 1875, to the present time.
JUDGES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS .- George W. Savage, April 13, 1857 ; Apollos M. Elmer, April 13, 1857 ; Theodore Pierson, April 13, 1857; Jonathan M. Ropes, October 19, 1860 ; David Mulford, April 1, 1862 ; William Gibby, April 1, 1864 ; Hugh H. Browne, April 1, 1867 ; George W. Farnham, April 1, 1873; Nathan Harper, April 1, 1881 ; Lewis L. Hyer, April 1, 1882, until office ceased to exist ; James T. Wiley, April 1, 1889, died, and May 17, 1894, was succeeded by John Williams Crane, who served until the office ceased to exist.
PRESIDENT JUDGES OF THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS .- Hon. Robert S. Green, April 1, 1868; Hon. Enos W. Runyon, April 1, 1873 ; Hon. Thomas F. McCormich, April 1, 1878, to present time.
PROSECUTORS OF THE PLEAS .- John I. Chetwood, from April 13 1857, to the time of his death, December 3, 1861 ; Robert S. Green, appointed by court to fill vacancy caused by the death of John I. Chetwood ; Edward Y. Rogers, from February 6, 1862 ; William I. Magie, from April 3, 1866, to April 4, 1871 ; J. Augustus Fay, Jr., from April 4, 1871, to April 19, 1881 ; William R. Wilson, from April 19, 1881, to April 19, 1891 ; Frederick C. Marsh, by appointment of court January, 1891, October, 1891, January, 1892, May, 1892, October, 1892 ; Frederick C. Marsh, from January, 1893, to present time.
COUNTY CLERKS .- Henry R. Cannon, from April 13, 1857, to November 13, 1877 ; James S. Vosseller, from November 13, 1877, to death ; John L. Crowell filled vacancy, by appointment, from 188-, to November, 1887 ; John L. Crowell, from November 15, 1887, to November, 1892; James I. Gerber, from November 15, 1892, to his death, November 15, 1893 ; William M. Oliver, by appointment, from November 15, 1893, to November 15, 1894 ; William Howard, from November 15, 1894, to the present time.
SURROGATES .- Jonathan Valentine, from April 13, 1857, to November 13, 1862 ; Robert S. Green, from November 13, 1862, to November 13, 1867 ; Addison L. Clark, from November 13, 1867, to November 13, 1877 ; James J. Gerber, from November 13, 1877, to November 14, 1887 ; George F. Parrot, from November 14, 1887, to the present time.
SHERIFFS .- Edward Pierson, by appointment, from April 13, 1857, to November 13, 1877 ; Meline W. Halsey, by election, from November 11, 1857, to November, 1860 ; Thomas W. Reynolds, by election, from November, 1860, to November, 1863 ; Nathaniel Bonnel, by election, from November, 1863, to November, 1866 ; Edgar Pierson, by elec- tion, from November, 1866, to November, 1869; Joseph M. Osborn, by election, from November, 1869, to November, 1872 ; Seth B. Ryder, by election, from November, 1872, to November, 1875; Nathaniel K. Thompson, by election, from November, 1875, to November, 1878 ; Seth B. Ryder, by election, from November, 1878, to November, 1881 ; Thomas M. Forsyth, by election, from November, 1881, to November, 1884; George M. Stiles, by election, from November, 1884, to November, 1887 ; Frederick F. Glasby, by election, from November, 1887, to November, 1890 ; William H. Hicks, by election, from November 12, 1890, to November, 1893 ; George Kyte, by election, from November, 1893, to November, 1896; William T. Kirk, by election, from November, 1896, to the present time.
Oliver Pierce was appointed court crier in May, 1857; and continued to hold that position for over twenty years, and up to the time of his death. John Keron has held the position of sergeant-at- arms for many years and still continues to fill the same office. He also acted as court crier for many years, and was succeeded by the present crier of the court, James Ritchie.
The county jail was for many years under the custody of the sheriff,-this continuing up to the time when a jail warden was appointed by the board of freeholders. Abraham A. Ward, of Rahway,
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was the first person to receive that appointment, and was reappointed from term to term up to the time of his death. He so conducted this responsible office that he was retained, without regard to the political complexion of the board of freeholders. Under his able man- agement the jail of Union county became the model jail not only of this state, but of all adjacent states. He was succeeded by Frederick
UNION COUNTY BUILDINGS-WARDEN'S RESIDENCE
Dodd, of Plainfield, and he in turn by the present incumbent, John C. Blore, of Rahway.
LAWYERS OF UNION COUNTY.
When the courts of the county were first opened, the members of the bar consisted of the Hon. Benjamin Williamson, Francis B. Chet- wood, John I. Chetwood, William F. Day, William J. Magie and
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY
Robert S. Green, of Elizabeth ; Thomas H. Shafer and Edward Y. Rogers, of Rahway ; and Cornelius Boice, Joseph Annin and Enos W. Runyon, of Plainfield. The only survivors at this time are Thomas H. Shafer and William I. Magie. The latter, having served for some years as a judge of the supreme court, has been recently appointed chief justice, after the death of Judge Beasley.
A few years after the county was organized, the whole of lower Rahway was taken from the county of Middlesex and included in the bounds of Union county. A survey of the boundary line between Springfield, in Union county, and Millburn, in Essex county, added a small amount of property to this county.
For a number of years the people of Elizabeth and its vicinity had been desirous of forming a new county, with Elizabeth Town as the county seat, but every effort had been unsuccessful, owing to the strong opposition of the inhabitants of Plainfield, Westfield and other townships. Of all those engaged in the effort to establish the new county no one was more persistent than Moses M. Crane, who, after the act, and for several years thereafter, was known as the "Father of Union county."
CHAPTER XV.
REPRESENTATIVE LAWYERS OF UNION COUNTY.
HATEVER else may be said of the legal fraternity, it can not be denied that members of the bar have been more prominent actors in public affairs than any other class of American people. This is but the natural result of causes which are manifest and require no explanation. The ability and train- ing which qualify one to practice law also qualify him in many respects for duties which are outside the sphere of his profession. Union county has had reason in the past to take pride in the character of its judiciary and bar, and to-day the personnel is one which can not but prove, like- wise, a source of gratification. This chapter touches upon the careers of able lawyers, both of the past and present, and is most properly incorporated as an integral part of the history of the county.
HON. ISAAC HALSTED WILLIAMSON, LL. D.
Perhaps no figure in New Jersey's history occupies a more con- spicuous or more favorable position than that of the Hon. Isaac Halsted Williamson, LL. D.
Born at Elizabeth ou the 27th of September, 1768, his boyhood days were spent amid the stirring scenes of the Revolution, and though he was compelled to suffer but little of the hardships that were so universal at that time, his closeness to the scene of so many conflicts, and the excitement incident to the struggle for liberty, taught him many lessons which proved invaluable in after life, and imbued him with a love of country and a patriotism which were evidenced in almost all his public acts. During his career as a citizen, as a legislator and as an executive he strenuously opposed any measure that sought to deprive the people of any of their civil or religious liberties, which had been purchased at such a fearful cost. He had been a witness to the payment of the purchase-price, and no one more fully realized their inestimable value. It was, therefore, his earnest wish and constant endeavor (in the words of the New Jersey constitution) "to secure and transmit the same, uninipaired, to succeed- ing generations." He was a son of General Matthias Williamson and Sunnah Halsted, and the youngest of five children. He studied law with his eldest brother, Matthias, a prominent practitioner of the
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state, was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1791 and as a counselor in 1796, and opened an office in his native town, where he continued until his death.
Mr. Williamson's executive ability was recognized by the people of New Jersey when they chose him for their governor and chancellor, in 1817. These offices he continued to hold, through successive elec- tions, until 1829, when he retired to private life, having filled them to the entire satisfaction of his constituents and with distinguished honor to himself.
The first public position occupied by him of which there is any record was that of librarian of the Elizabeth Library Association, "an organization for the circulation of useful books, and for the elevation of the tastes of the people." He was chosen to act in this capacity in 1792, and continued to do so until 1796, when he was succeeded by Dr. Abraham Clark. The selection of Mr. Williamson to fill this position is an indication of the confidence with which the people viewed him, and is a tribute to his literary capacity.
In 1831 and 1832 he served as a member of the state council, and for four years, 1830-33, he served as mayor of the borough of Elizabeth, and although afterward frequently solicited to accept the governorship, he declined, owing to the confinement attendant upon his professional and home duties. He was prevailed upon, however, to attend, in a representative capacity, the constitutional convention which met in Trenton on May 14, 1844, and was there honored by being unani- mously chosen the presiding officer. His distinguished services at the convention are too well known to need rehearsing here.
Mr. Williamson died July 10, 1844, after an illness which was attended with great bodily suffering, borne without complaint and with that patient forbearance which marked his whole career. His demise was uniformly mourned, for, through a long and useful life, he had deservedly won many warm personal friends and a host of ardent admirers. His remains were interred in the ancestral vault in St. John's churchi-yard, Elizabeth.
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