USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union County, New Jersey > Part 19
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Charles Newell Fowler was the seventh of a family of eight children. He received at first a common-school education and was then prepared for college at Beloit, Wisconsin. In 1872 lie entered Yale University, from which institution he was graduated in 1876. Subse- quently he went to Chicago and read law in the office of Williams & Thompson, and was graduated from the Chicago Law School in 1878.
Mr. Fowler commenced the practice of his profession in Beloit, Kansas. In 1884 he came to New York state, settling on the Hudson, but in 1885 he moved to Cranford, New Jersey, and, in 1891 to Elizabeth, where he has since resided.
For ten years Mr. Fowler was engaged in the banking business in New York city ; for five years he was chairman of the Republican central committee of Elizabeth. In 1894 he was elected to congress as a Repub- lican, receiving a plurality of six thousand two hundred and thirty-six votes, Mr. Cleveland having received one thousand five hundred majority. He was unanimously renominated, was re-elected by a plurality of eleven thousand six hundred and forty-four, and is at the present time (1897) a member of the committee on banking and currency in the house of representatives of the United States. He is prominently interested in various ways in the institutions of his adopted city. He is president of the board of trustees of the Pingry School, is a member of the University Club, of New York,and also of the Mettano Club, of Elizabeth, and of the Elizabeth Athletic Club.
In 1879 Mr. Fowler was married to Miss Hilda S. Heg, daughter of Colonel H. C. Heg, who was killed at the battle of Chickamauga. Mrs. Fowler received her education at Beloit College, Wisconsin, and in Europe. She is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church, in Elizabeth. One child, Charles N. Fowler, Jr., was born of this union.
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From an admirable sketch of Mr. Fowler in the Bankers' Magazine for the month of June, 1897, we clip the following :
" During the ten years Mr. Fowler devoted to business, to the exclu- sion of almost every other interest, he became familiar with the conditions and needs of every part of the United States, as he traveled much and was constantly studying the trend of financial affairs and the rapid development that went on from 1884 to 1893.
"Since he is intense in his nature and persistent in his purpose, and when it is known that, even in his college days, he had a great fondness for political economy, sociology and history, it is not strange that, after five years of successful practice at the bar and ten years of even greater success in business life, with a thorough knowledge of business, an intimate acquaintance with all sections of our country, he should have at once commanded the respect of his fellow members in the house, and by his speeches and contributions to the press, 11pon tlie financial and currency question, attracted the attention of the whole country.
"His bill for the reform of the currency system is one of the most comprehensive and complete yet formulated, and the thoroughness evidenced in its preparation shows constructive statesmanship of a high order. It has attracted wide public attention, and has commanded the favorable consideration of many merchants and bankers throughout the United States, as well as others who have given thoughtful regard to the subject.
"The bill introduced by Mr. Fowler is not a mere amendment to some section or part of our present faulty banking system, with a view of patching it up, but a measure involving the readjustment of our national finances and a recomposition of our currency, and yet so care- fully have the practical and theoretical been blended that no shock can come to the business interests of the country during the transition from our present plan to the one proposed.
"The changes to be effected are such as will eventually work almost a complete reconstruction of our currency and banking systems, placing them in line with the soundest principles derived from expe- rience ; but the steps leading up to this reform are so graduated as to avoid any possible confusion or disturbance to public credit. Each new provision as it goes into effect will tend to more firmly establish every legitimate enterprise, since it will place the credit currency (the life blood of commerce) upon an indisputable basis, and will forever close discussion as to what is meant by a dollar.
"In the preparation of a measure of fiscal reform involving such a wide departure from the existing imperfect system, and to adjust it to the needs of widely separated sections of our country, with the great diversity of interests, traditional predispositions and prejudices, and the complex forms of banking organization, the utmost care has been
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required to meet all reasonable demands without the sacrifice of essential principles.
"It is believed that Mr. Fowler's bill meets these difficult require- ments. Every attempt has been made to comply with the just demands of the entire country, but no concession has been made to unsound or doubtful expedients.
"There is undoubtedly a preponderance of opinion in favor of -- sound money, but it has heretofore failed to concentrate itself on some distinct proposition. As the measure prepared by Mr. Fowler has taken such a broad view of the needs of the whole country, and is con- structed on lines of approved safety, it would seem that it affords a common ground on which all friends of sound currency may meet.
"The prominent part taken by Mr. Fowler at the monetary con- vention held at Indianopolis, in January, attracted the attention of all those who are in any degree interested in this all important question ; while his address delivered before the Massachusetts Reform Club, in Boston, on Lincoln's birthday, February last, was widely published throughout the country, with favorable comment.
"On April 17th there appeared in the Congressional Record a full exposition of the measure lately introduced by him, which must necessarily add greatly to his reputation as a deep student, a close observer, a clear reasoner, and, above all, a thoroughly practical man. He has considered the question involved so broadly, fully and repletely that every man who is studying the subject of national finance and currency should send to him for a copy of this address.
"In conclusion, it is most gratifying to observe that, however active Mr. Fowler has been in his various vocations of life, he has always identified himself with every public movement that has tended to improve, elevate and ameliorate the conditions of life in the community where he resides. But he has been particularly interested in the future of the boys, and has done much to advance the interests of the Pingry School, a college-fitting academy, of which he is president.
"Should congress pass a joint resolution authorizing the president to appoint a monetary commission, Mr. Fowler is, certainly, especially well fitted for appointment as one of the number.
"Speaker Reed, in placing Mr. Fowler on the banking and currency committee of the house, greatly promoted the cause of sound currency. His study and experience, and his efforts to harmonize opposing elements and crystalize public opinion on the subject of financial reform have caused him to be a valuable member of the committee, and have made his name prominent in connection with the chairmanship of the banking and currency committee of the fifty-fifth congress."
Before the assembling of the present congress, in speaking of the
1
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currency commission, the New York Tribune urged the appointment of Mr. Fowler as a member of that body, should such a commission be created, and said : "As a banker Mr. Fowler is necessarily familiar with the monetary systems of the world, but besides his practical knowledge, he has made a special study of the whole subject, with particular reference to the changes needed in the methods operating here. Mr. Fowler's eminence as an authority has already been recognized in various quarters. Last fall he neglected his own campaign work to do service in the west, and his speeches there attracted great attention. Through the newspapers and magazines Mr. Fowler has also made numerous contributions to the discussion of this problem, and even the strongest opponents of his views concede that the propositions which he advances are supported by him in a tolerant yet forceful and logical manner."
JAMES HERVEY ACKERMAN
left an indelible impression upon the public life of Plainfield, and at the bar of New York won distinguished honors. He was one of the prominent corporation lawyers who live in the memories of his con- temporaries, encircled with the halo of a gracious presence, charming personality, profound legal wisdom, purity of public and private life, and the quiet dignity of an ideal follower of his calling.
A native of New Jersey, Mr. Ackerman was born in New Bruns- wick and lived there through his early years, while acquiring his pri- mary and academic education. Desirous of fitting himself for his life work by thorough mental training, he continued his studies beyond the academic course and entered Rutgers College; but after the death of his father the family removed to New York city, and he completed his collegiate course in the University of New York. A view over the field of business life convinced him that his taste lay in the direction of law, and his preparation for the bar was made in the Albany Law School, where his close application and strong mentality enabled him to take high rank among his fellow students. He began practice in New York, in the office of Benedict & Boardinan, a well known firm of that city, and subsequently entered into partnership with a son of ex-Mayor Opdyke. His success was but the natural sequence of his love for his profession, his painstaking preparation and his compre- hensive knowledge of the science of jurisprudence. His ability was not confined to one line of judicial practice; he seemed equally power- ful in all departments of law and won an enviable reputation in the conduct of varied cases, yet his time was mostly given to civil law, and especially that branch dealing with corporations. For many years lie was counsel for the Newark India Rubber Company, and it was during his successful defense of several large law suits connected with
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.. HERVEY ACKERMAN
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the patent rights owned by this company that he displayed the bril- liant legal talent that gave him rank among the distinguished jurists of this part of the country. He was admitted to the bar of New Jersey in 1871, and, after his removal to Plainfield, maintained an office in Newark, where he was associated with Vice-Chancellor Amzi Dodd. He threw himself, with all the earnestness and enthusiasm of his nature, into the case at hand, and for the time knew nothing ex- cept his duty to his client, whose cause he made his own. He was an untiring and indefatigable worker, conducting cases involving large interests and intricate complications, and was a great lawyer, not only by the qualities of intellect, but also by the more practical test,-the success which attended his efforts.
In 1862 Mr. Ackerinan was united in marriage to Miss Ellen R. Morgan, a daughter of Rev. Dr. Morgan, of New Rochelle, New York, and to them were born five children. Soon after his marriage Mr. Ackerman removed to New Jersey and made Plainfield his perma- nent home. He was interested in both its civic and religious affairs, and was a leader in thought and action here. He viewed with a broad outlook the needs and possibilities of his adopted city, and gave his influence and support to all practical measures for the public good. He was elected a member of Plainfield's common council, and his efficient services in this capacity were recognized by a re-election the following year; he served as president of that body, and in 1874 the city judgeship was dignified by his legal ability. His death occurred Sep- tember 4, 1885. Few members of the bar of Newark have left a more enduring impression, both for legal ability of a high order and the in- dividuality of personal character which impresses itself upon the community than James Hervey Ackerman. His legal acumen was masterful, his integrity unassailable, his honor irreproachiable.
JOSEPH CROSS
was born at Morristown, New Jersey, December 29, 1843. He was pre- pared for college at Elizabeth, under the tutorship of the Rev. Dr. Pierson, and, entering the sophomore class at Princeton College, he completed the course of study, and was graduated in 1865. He studied law with William J. Magie, at Elizabeth, and took a course of lectures at the Columbia College law school in New York. In 1868 he was admitted as an attorney, and in 1871 as a counselor. He at once formed a partnership with Mr. Magie, under the firm name of Magie & Cross, which lasted until 1880, when Mr. Magie was appointed a justice of the supreme court of New Jersey. The present firm of Cross & Noe was formed in 1884.
In 1888 .Mr. Cross was appointed judge of the district court, but in 1891 was legislated out of office in a general political change. In 1893
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he was elected member of the state assembly of New Jersey, by a plu- rality of three hundred and sixty-seven, out of a total vote of four thousand six hundred and twenty-eight, although he ran as a Repub- lican in a Democratic district. He was a candidate against his per-
JOSEPH CROSS
sonal wishes, but those who knew him insisted that he was the man for the emergency. In the house he was chairman of the committee on passed bills, and was a member of the committees on banks and insurance, the sinking fund and the judiciary committees. Upon the resignation of Speaker Holt, during the session of the house of assem-
JOSEPH B. COWARD
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bly of 1894, he was chosen to fill the vacancy. In 1894 Mr. Cross was re-elected a member of the assembly for the county of Union, by a plurality of two thousand and ninety-three, and upon the organization of the assembly in January, 1895, was re-elected speaker, receiving the unanimous vote of his Republican colleagues, who numbered fifty-four out of a total membership of sixty.
Mr. Cross inade an able presiding officer, and while the business of the house was dispatched quickly, it was accomplished without undue haste. He proved himself an excellent parliametarian and a skillful manager of men.
He always had the best interests of the state at heart, and it was always his aim to make his administration redound to the benefit of the people rather than to his own political advantage.
At Elizabeth he is a director in the National Fire and Marine Insurance Company and is counsel for that company, as well as for the First National Bank and other corporations. The law firm of Cross & Noe are especially interested in real-estate and commercial law. Mr. Cross is married and is a member of the Westminster Presbyterian church, of Elizabeth, one of its elders and also superintendent of the Sunday school.
New Jersey will do well to keep at the helm of state in future years good men and true, like the Hon. Joseph Cross.
WILLIAM J. MAGIE,
chief justice of the supreme court of New Jersey, was born at Eliza- beth, December 9, 1832, being the son of the Rev. David Magie, D. D., a native of the same town and for nearly forty-five years pastor of the Second Presbyterian church of that city. His mother, nee Frances Wilson, was also a native of Elizabeth. Young Magie entered Princeton College in 1852 and graduated in 1855 ; he studied law with Francis B. Chetwood, at Elizabeth, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1856 and as counselor in 1859. For six years he was asso- ciated with Mr. Chetwood, and subsequently formed a partnership with Judge Cross. He was prosecutor of the pleas for Union county from 1866 to 1871.
In politics he is a Republican, and has acted with that party since 1861. In 1875 he represented the county of Union in the New Jersey senate, and served three years. In 1880 he was appointed an associate justice of the state, serving in that capacity until 1897, when he was appointed by Governor Griggs chief justice of the state.
JOSEPH B. COWARD.
Joseph Bloomfield Coward, son of John H. and Phoebe E. (Cadmus) Coward, was born in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1836. The father was a
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native of Monmouth county, New Jersey, and was a resident of Plainfield and a hatter there fro111 1835 to 1860. He died in November, 1896, aged ninety-two years. The inotlier died in 1890. Two children were born of this union,-Deboralı C., wife of John B. Arrowsmithi, of Monmouth county, New Jersey, and the subject of this sketelı.
Joseph B. Coward received his education in the public schools of Plainfield, after which lie studied law in the office of Cornelius Boice, one of the inost prominent lawyers of that city. He was admitted to the bar in 1858. Within this same year he went to Keyport, Moninoutli county, New Jersey, but in 1864, he returned to Plainfield, where he lias contin- ued the practice of his profession since that time.
Mr. Coward is a Republican in politics, and has held prominent positions of trust in the gift of that party for many years. He was a mem- ber of the assembly from the third district of Union county for the year 1878. He has been prominently identified with the affairs of his city in various ways ; he has been a member of the commnon council, was city clerk from 1890 to 1892, and has been connected with the Dime Savings Bank, as a member of its board of managers, since its organization in 1868. He has also been a director in the City National Bank for many years.
Mr. Coward was married to Miss Saralı A., daugliter of Cornelius Boice, in 1859. Three children were born of this union. Their names are Lillian, Harry H. and Helen A. Harry H. Coward is connected withi the City National Bank, of Plainfield. Mr. Coward and family are members of the Crescent Avenue Presbyterian church.
FOSTER M. VOORHEES
was born November 5, 1856, in Clinton, Hunterdon county, New Jersey. At the age of fifteen years lie was admitted to Rutgers College, where he was graduated four years later, the second-lionor inan of his class, taking the prize for moral philosophy and in Greek language. During his college career, his law studies, and until he began to practice his pro- fession, Mr. Voorhees was engaged in the preparation of young men for college. Soon after his graduation he was offered and accepted a professorship of languages in the Rutgers Grammar School, at New Brunswick, where he taught one year, acting as first assistant to the rector, after which he entered the law office of Magie & Cross, at Eliza- beth, New Jersey, and in 1880 was admitted to the bar.
Mr. Voorhees has never been ambitions for political preferment, but has, nevertheless, held a 111111ber of public offices. In 1884 lie was elected school commissioner, and took an active part in the establishment of the high school and the training school in Elizabeth. When the city was bankrupt, and needed legislation to help it out financially, for educa- tional as well as for other purposes, he was selected to represent his city
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in the house of assembly. He was school commissioner of Elizabeth four years, and was a member of the house of assembly during the years 1888, 1889, and 1890. In 1894 he was nominated by Governor Werts for the office of circuit-court judge, but declined the honor. In 1893 he was elected to the state senate, and was re-elected in 1896. At the close of the first session the leadership of the senate was given to him, the same position having been held by him during his career in the assembly. His leadership was such that the Republican state convention, by reso- lutions, commended the course of the Republican minority. Mr. Voorlees was a member of the committee assigned to draft Werts' ballot
FOSTER M. VOORHEES
law, and took an active part in all of tlie deliberations of that committee.
At the close of his service in the assembly, he refused to re-enter politics, but when the state had been almost turned over to the absolute control of trusts, gamblers and the like, and when the pople of Union county, under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Keinpshall, formed the Citizens' League, Mr. Voorhees joined with the others in that great moral crusade, and was selected as the Republican candidate for senator, and in the elcetion received more votes than any other candidate. On this occasion he was made leader of the senate. He took an active part in the opposition
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to the attempt on the part of the ringsters to obstruct the organization of the senate, and in the promotion of various reform measures. Mr. Voor- hees was chairman of the senate investigation committee of 1896. He was re-elected to the senate in 1897.
NICHOLAS C. J. ENGLISH.
Englishtown, Monmouth county, New Jersey, received its name from James English, who settled there in 1737. His grandson was James Robinson English, a business man of Englishtown, and his son, the Rev. James T. English, the father of Nicholas C. J. English, was a prominent minister in the Presbyterian church, who removed from that place to Somerset county many years since.
The Rev. James T. English was prominent among the clergy of his church, and filled his only appointment for the long period of thirty-five years. He was a graduate of Union College, of New York, subsequently of the theological seminary at Princeton, New Jersey, and was called to Liberty Corner, Somerset county, New Jersey, -the only pastorate held by him, and one in which he remained till the time of his death. His wife was Mary Elizabeth Jobs, daughter of Nicholas C. Jobs, prominent as a justice of the peace, a member of the assembly for several terms, and postmaster of his town for nearly fifty years. There were born of this union four sons, and one daughter. Of the sons three becaine lawyers, and one a physician, all prominent in their professions.
Nicholas C. J. English was born at Liberty Corner, Somerset county, November 4, 1842, and, as his parentage shows, came from old New Jersey stock. He received a good common-school education, and was then so thoroughly prepared for college at Basking Ridge, New Jersey, as to enter the sophomore class at Princeton. Basking Ridge was four miles away, but young English went daily from his home to that place, much of the time on foot, until his labors were completed. In 1865 he graduated among the honor men of his class, and immedi- ately afterward commenced the study of the law, under the direction of his brother, James R. English, with whom he has been associated in the practice of his profession since the time of his admittance to the bar. The firm of J. R. and N. English, composed of the two brothers, has done a very extensive business, the members having a high pro- fessional standing among the more important leading business men and great corporations of eastern New Jersey. As a lawyer Mr. English has an enviable reputation for sterling honesty, and is esteemed as a counselor in civil rather than criminal cases. His practice, in consequence, is largely in the settling of corporation suits, trusts and chancery cases, in which the firm is most reputably known. He cares little for office or political preferment, but has been, however,
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somewhat prominently identified from time to time with the affairs of the city government, and with various enterprises in Elizabeth. He was one of the directors in the extension of the line of the Lehigh Valley Railroad Company to New York, is a director of the First
NICHOLAS C. J. ENGLISH
National Bank of Elizabeth, is a trustee of the Pingry School, and is identified with other interests of his city and state.
There is no spot on earth more dear to Mr. English than his home. His was a happy union, in 1870, with Miss Ella J. Hall, daughter of William Hall, Esq., of Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Mr. Hall, now in
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the evening of his days, has been one of the most progressive and successful business men of that city.
Two sons were the fruit of this union. One, William H., died before graduating from Princeton College, of which he was a student. The other son, Conover, is now pursuing a course of instruction in the same institution.
Mr. English is an elder in the Second Presbyterian church, of Eliza- beth, and is actively identified with the interests of that society, giving of his means liberally for charitable purposes. Mr. English considers himself identified also with the interests of old Somerset county, as he owns the old homestead farm, at Liberty Corner, where he was born and where he spends part of the time each year. This farm has been owned successively by members of the family for five generations. During the Revolution it was the scene of stormy events, and tradi- tions of Indian, French and British soldiers cluster around it.
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