History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 32

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224

USA > New Jersey > Middlesex County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 32
USA > New Jersey > Union County > History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men > Part 32

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The death of Dr. Jobs occurred at his residence in the village of Springfield. His son, Nicholas C. Jobs, was born Jan. 12, 1851, and having adopted his father's profession, spent three years at Cornell Uni- versity, after which he entered the College of Physi- cians and Surgeons, New York City, from which he graduated March 4, 1874. After a year and a half spent at the Charity Hospital, New York, he suc- ceeded to the practice of his father. He was married' Nov. 12, 1878, to Miss Marietta, daughter of Silas Miller. They have one son, Walter English Jobs.

LEWIS DRAKE, M.D., physician of Rahway, N. J.,

was born on the Drake homestead in Piscataway, Middlesex Co., Aug. 25, 1802.

A family tradition connects him with the descend- ants of the celebrated English navigator of Queen Elizabeth's reign, but no authentic records have yet been found to prove the tradition true further than tbat the Drakes were among the early English set- tlers of this part of New Jersey. His grandfather, Ephraim Drake, born in Piscataway, Oct. 31, 1747, married, March 14, 1773, Rachel Fitz Randolph, who was born Aug. 21, 1751, and died Oct. 1, 1816. He died Aug. 21, 1801. They had three children,-Sarah, Reuben, and Catherine.

Ephraim Drake lived during the perilous times of the war for the independence of the colonies, and on one occasion the British entered his house and de- spoiled him of his entire stock of provisions.

Reuben, only son of Ephraim, was born in Piscata- way, March 7, 1775, and there, like his father hefore him, spent his life as a farmer. He kept aloof from public offices, but took a laudable pride in the culti- vation of his farm, which contained some two hun- dred and fifty acres. He was a member of the Bap- tist Church at Piscataway, and died March 15, 1843. His wife, Miriam, was a daughter of Ephraim Pyatt, of the same place, who was horn March 24, 1779, was married June 8, 1799, and died Aug. 5, 1869.

The children of Reuben and Miriam Drake were : Ephraim. a farmer most of his active business life in his native township, born April, 1800, died July 7, 1867; Lewis, subject of this sketch ; and Emily, who died young. Lewis Drake remained at home attend- ing the district school and assisting his father on the farm until twenty years of age, when he resolved to lead a professional instead of a business life. His preparatory education was received at Dr. Brown- ley's grammar school at Basking Ridge, at Amherst, Mass., and under the private instructions of Rev. Dr. Cook, of Piscataway. In 1826 he began the study of medicine with Dr. Taylor, of New Bruns- wick, and completed his studies with Dr. Samuel Jackson, professor at that time of the practice of medicine in the University of Pennsylvania, at Phila- delphia, from which institution, after taking three courses of lectures therein, he was graduated in the spring of 1829. Dr. Drake, the same spring, began the practice of medicine at Woodbridge, Middlesex Co., and was associated with the late eminent phy- sician, Dr. Matthias Freeman, who for many years had enjoyed an extensive practice in that part of New Jersey, but who the same year died, Dr. Drake being inducted at once into a large and lucrative practice ; settled the same spring at Rahway, where he has re- sided and continued the practice of his profession since, a period of fifty-two years.

At that time there were no druggists in the village, and Dr. Drake, like other early physicians, purchased lis medicines in bulk in New York City, and com- pounded them himself. This practice he has kept up

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

during his entire professional career, thereby admin- istering to his patients only medicines prepared by himself. As a physician, Dr. Drake has always been esteemed for his skill in the diagnosis and manage- ment of complicated cases of disease, and his devo- tion and kindness to those under his treatment, with his thorough knowledge of cause of disease and effect of certain remedies, has given him a wide reputation and place among the most prominent physicians of his day. As a citizen, although never solicitous of public place or the emoluments of office, he has ever been interested in the growth of the place where he resides and in the welfare of its citizens, and in 1855 and 1856, through his infinenee largely, an act of the Legislature was passed whereby the mill-dams on the Rahway River within the city limits were removed, it being shown that they were the cause of much sick- ness to the population. For many years he was a member of the Middlesex County Medical Society, and attended its meetings at New Brunswick. Dr. Drake has devoted his active life strictly to the duties of his profession, and alike to the rich and poor adminis- tered relief and given encouragement in cases of suf- fering, and in 1882 he is the oldest resident practicing physician in Union County.

His first wife, whom he married May 16, 1832, was Charity S., daughter of the late Dr. Matthias Free- man, before alluded to, and granddaughter of Dr. Melancthon Freeman, an old physician of Metuchen. She died April 28, 1842, aged thirty-two years, leav- ing one surviving child, Cornelia B., who has always resided at home. For his second wife Dr. Drake married Mrs. Julia A. Martin, formerly Julia Bar- ney, of New Haven, Conn., who died Sept. 2, 1874, aged sixty-seven years. Dr. Drake built his present residence on Main Street in 1837, and has occupied it for both office and residence since.

RANDOLPH TITSWORTH, M.D .- His paternal an- cestors were of Welsh origin, and the Titsworths of New Jersey are descendants of five brothers who emi- grated from Wales and were early settlers in the State.

His paternal grandfather, Lewis, was a farmer, and resided respectively at Spotswood and New Market, in Middlesex County, where he reared a family of ten children. His maternal grandfather, Isaac F. Randolph, a wealthy and influential citizen of New Brooklyn, was a descendant of the Fitz Randolphs, early settlers in Woodbridge.

Abraham, son of Lewis Titsworth, was during his early manhood a merchant tailor at Metuchen, sub- sequently a farmer, and died at New Brooklyn in May, 1868, at the age of seventy-three years. Ile was highly esteemed as a citizen for his integrity in all his business relations; was a member of the Ser- enth-Day Baptist Church, and for several terms served as judge of the Court of Common Pleas. His wife, Juliet Fitz Randolph, survives in 1882, at the age of eighty years, and bore him eight children,-Dr. Ran-

dolph, subject of this sketch; Mary Ann, wife of Daniel Rogers, of Metuchen ; Caleb S., a lawyer and ex-judge of the city of Newark; Julia E., wife of David L. Randolph, of New Brooklyn ; John How- ard, a farmer in Pardee, Kansas; Isaae Lewis, de- ceased ; Amanda, wife of William B. Maxson, a law- yer of Plainfield ; and Thomas Stillman, deceased.

Dr. Randolph Titsworth was born Feb. 26, 1821. His early education was received in the schools at home, and his preparatory course at the High School at Shiloh, N. J., and at De Ruyter, N. Y. In his ef- forts to obtain an education he was obliged to depend upon his own resources, and unassisted pecuniarily he worked his way, struggling against obstacles incident to straitened circunstances, until he finished his pre- paratory course. In 1847 he began the study of medi- cine with Drs. E. T. Richardson and J. G. Loomis, of Syracuse, N. Y., but soon after, Dr. Loomis being ap- pointed to the chair of obstetrics in the Homeo- pathic College in Philadelphia, Dr. Titsworth accom- panied him, and continued his studies with him in the college until his graduation in 1853. Prior to this "he practiced for about a year in the college, and for some time had charge of the dispensary department. At this time the practice of medicine by what was termed homeopathy was in its infancy, and only here and there could be found an exponent of the new theory. In what is now Union County there was only one, Dr. Green, of Elizabeth, and in Middlesex

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County there was also only one homeopathic practi- tioner, Dr. Robinson. Dr. Titsworth settled in Plain- field in the spring of 1853, and was the first to invite the people to examine the new departure in the prac- tice of medicine in that section of New Jersey. He found only two families ready to willingly receive it. With that earnestness and zeal that has characterized his professional career, and with full confidence that it only required time for the more intelligent and thinking public to give credence to this new theory of the practice of medicine, Dr. Titsworth, by his skillful and scientific treatment of cases coming be- fore him, gradually won his way to a place in the pro- fession as a worthy exponent of homeopathy, although he was opposed at every step by doctors of the regular practice. This new school of medicine has rapidly developed its theory before the people, and made a new era in the theory and practice of medicine, and whereas only two families in Plainfield and the sur- rounding country were its advocates in 1853, when Dr. Titsworth first settled there, it is asserted upon good authority that its practice in 1882 is equal to the regular practice, if not in the majority among the more wealthy, influential, and intelligent families.

Dr. Titsworth is the founder of homeopathic prac- tice in and about Plainfield, and during his nearly thirty years' practice there his skill as a physician, his quick perception in the diagnosis of complicated cases of disease, and his devotion to his patients have won him an enviable reputation, and placed him among the first in his profession in the State. His practice has been continuous since he first settled in Plainfield, with the exception of one year, 1861, which he spent traveling in the Western States for his health, and some three years that he practiced in New York City.

In early life Dr. Titsworth was identified with the membership of the Seventh-Day Baptist Church, but since his residence in Plainfield he has been a member of Trinity Reformed Church there, and has served the church both as deacon and elder. He is a mem- ber of the American Institute of Homeopathy, and of the State Homœopathic Medical Society, founded in 1853, for which he served as treasurer during the first two years of its existence.

He married in 1844 Miss Lucinda L., daughter of Samuel Caldwell, of Pompey, N. Y., a native of Massachusetts, who died in May, 1875, leaving one child, Josephine, wife of William M. Runyon, of Plainfield. His present wife, whom he married in July, 1879, is Isabella L. Bragg, of White House, N. J.

soon after the close of the Revolution. Shepard Kol- lock, who had learned the printer's trade in Philadel- phia and had been a lieutenant in the army till the close of the campaign of 1778, established the follow- ing year, by the advice of Gen. Knox, a weekly news- paper at Chatham, N. J., among the mountains, then deemed inaccessible by the British, whereby he might aid the patriot cause without fear of being disturbed by the enemy. That paper was called the New Jersey Journal. The first number bears date Feb. 10, 1779. Mr. Kollock was the editor and proprietor. The paper did great service to the cause of liberty, and continued to be published at Chatham till the end of the war. Upon the evacuation of New York by the British he removed his press to that city, and on Dec. 3, 1783, began the publication of the New York Gazet- teer and Country Journal, opening also a book-store at No. 22 Hanover Square. This paper made rapid progress. The first month it was issued weekly ; with the beginning of 1784 it became a tri-weekly, issued on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until the 27th of July, then semi-weekly, issued on Tues- days and Fridays, until August, 1786, when, in part- nership with George Carroll and John Patterson, Mr. Kollock issued the paper under the name of the New York Gazetteer or Daily Evening Post until Dec. 14, 1786, when it was discontinued for want of support.

During part of this time Mr. Kollock also conducted a weekly paper called the New Jersey Journal and Po- litical Intelligencer at New Brunswick, N. J. This was the present New Jersey Journal of Elizabeth; it was established at the former place as early as July, 1784, and was removed to its permanent location in this town probably at the beginning of the following year. This appears from the fact that the New York Gazetteer of Nov. 8, 1785, asks patronage for "the New Jersey paper printed at Elizabeth Town." The pre- cise date of the transfer is not known.

A writer in the Newark Daily Messenger, under date of Elizabeth, N. J., July 29, 1858, writes thus of the Journal :

" A copy of this pioneer newspaper is now before us, published ' Wednesday, September 5, 1781,'1 and marked ' Vol. III., Number CXXXIII.' The copy is a rare specimen of antiquity. It consists of a single sheet of three columns, and is but thirteen by three and one-fourth inches, containing interesting letters from W. Balfour to Right Honorable Lord George Germaine, taken from a packet bound from Charleston, S. C., to London ; brief communications from Boston, Salem, Annapolis, Baltimore, Phila- delphia, and Poughkeepsie concerning the erection of strong works at Gloucester and Yorktown by Lord

CHAPTER XX.

PRESS OF UNION COUNTY.

1 The oldest file in New Jersey Historical Society from Nov. 8, 1786, to Sept. 1, 1818. "Published by Shepard Kollack at two dollars and fifty cents a year."

Dr. Van Rensselaer, of Philadelphia, had a file of the New Jersey Jour- nal from the beginning in 1858, but we have been unable to find it,

The New Jersey Journal .- It is a somewhat no- ticeable fact that the Journal, which is now published in Elizabeth, was established here as early as 1785, ' although we have made diligent search.

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HISTORY OF UNION AND MIDDLESEX COUNTIES, NEW JERSEY.

Cornwallis with five thousand men, 'assisted by three thousand negroes ;' accounts of the troops under Gens. Sumter and Marion in obliging 'Rawdon to move down the country,' etc., and many other items in relation to the war, which in the 'times that tried men's souls' must have been interesting.

"The editorial, written by S. Kollock at 'Chatham,' and found in an humble position at the bottom of the second page of the Journal, we transmit entire, hoping that either the style or subject-matter may prove of interest to your readers :

"' Chatham, September 5th. We are told that Colonel Laurens, lately arrived at Boston from France, has obtained a loan of hard money for the use of these Statee.

"' We are happy to announce to the publick the entire exchange of all our prisoners at New York and Long Island, most of whom have come out, and the reet may be momently expected. They received while in captivity one pound of flesh, two pounds of bread (which was often very bad), and a pint of rice per man for three days. Seldom doee British munificence extend further.

"'On Tuesday, the 28th ultimo, a fleet of thirteen ships of the line and four frigates, under the command of Admiral Hood, arrived at Sandy Hook from the West Indies. They brought ovor the Fortieth and Sixty- nioth Regimente.

" ' By the above fleet we learn that Admiral Rodney and Geo. Vaughan are sailed for England to answer for their nefarions conduct at St. Eus- tatiue.

"' The British fleet we are told still remain at the Hook, though it has been reported it had sailed.

" Last Wednesday night a party of Ward's plunderers from Bergen Neck corde up to the neighborhood of Hackensack, where they collected a number of cattle, but our people assembled with such alacrity that they retook the cattle and killed and wounded several of the miscreants. "' Sunday night the infamous Thomas Ward with a party of black and white negroes came over to Newark Neck, where they concealed tlieni- selves until next morning for the purpose of kidnapping people going to the meadows, but being discovered, though not until they had taken five or eix prisoners and a number of cowe, our people collected and took two of the villaine prisoners. The enemy embarked with precipitancy under cover of their gunboats.'"

In Italics Mr. Kollock adds the following: "The price of this paper per quarter is half a dollar hard money, and not half a State dollar as some have mis- takenly supposed."

Mr. Kollock conducted the Journal successfully until Sept. 1, 1818. On Wednesday, June 13, 1792, the latter part of its long name was dropped, though political intelligence did not cease to be a feature of the paper. Mr. Kollock was a zealous patriot and a strenuons advocate of Republican principles, as the Democratic doctrines were then called, adhering to the party which elected Jefferson to the Presidency. He defended the administration in the war of 1812-15, and supported John Quincy Adams for President. Sept. 1, 1818, he sold out to Peter Chatterton.

Mr. Kollock held the position of postmaster until 1829, and for thirty-five years was a judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Essex, continuing in that office until his death, which occurred July 28, 1839, at the age of eighty-eight years.

Dec. 5, 1797, the day of publication of the Journal , year, in one capacity or the other, ever since. Ile has was changed from Wednesday to Tuesday, on which latter day it has been issued ever since.

We have found it impossible to obtain information respecting the continuous mangement of the Jour-

nal down to the present time. We have, however, gleaned the following facts :

In the file for 1848 we find the names of " William M. Whitehead, editor, and James S. Drake, printer. Published every Tuesday morning opposite the lec- ture-room of the First Presbyterian Church, Broad Street, Elizabethtown, at two dollars and a half per annum, payable at the end of the first six months, or one dollar and seventy-five cents in advance."

Mr. Frederick W. Foote, for thirty years engaged in the profession of teaching in Elizabeth, purchased of Drake, Davis & Drake the New Jersey Journal, and assumed, with James S. Drake, the work and re- sponsibility of editor and proprietor .June 10, 1863. After a partnership of several years, Mr. Foote bought out Mr. Drake's share and became sole owner and proprietor.

About 1868 a venture was made to establish a daily newspaper in Elizabeth, but it failed after a brief struggle, and it was not until July, 1871, that the Elizabeth Daily Journal was firmly established, with Frederick W. Foote and Edward H. Clement as edi- tors. The struggle of the new daily for a foothold in this city was a struggle that cannot be known to those outside of this office, and will never be appreciated by any as it was by Mr. Foote himself, who was often cheered in the fact that he had lived to see his con- scientious work so successfully and firmly established. The gradual growth and prosperity of the paper, which, more surely than anything else, was Mr. Foote's characteristic work, are too well known in this city to need more than casual mention.

But Mr. Foote's work in the establishment and con- tinuance of the Journal, great as it was, was scarcely more than half his actual labors. He was associated with every progressive organization in this city, and not as a mere member, but was actively engaged in every department where his valuable services could be of avail, and it seemed as if there were no depart- ments where they could not.

From the time he came here he was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, and when the late Rev. Dr. Clark became rector he was actively engaged in working for the church's interest. When the new church was built Mr. Foote was on the building com- mittee, and superintended much of the work. In 1849 he was chosen a vestryman, and for many years past he was junior warden of this church, ex-Chan- cellor Williamson being senior warden. For seven- teen years he was superintendent of the Sunday-school, and for many years was treasurer of the church. It is a generation ago since he was first elected a dele- gate or alternate from this church to the Diocesan ! Convention, and he attended these conventions every served the church in office and in the pew with all his ability, all his example, and all his means. Next to his family and the Journal, St. John's Church suffers the severcst loss. Few, excepting those who

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PRESS OF UNION COUNTY.

were intimately acquainted with Mr. Foote, know how much of his time was devoted to his church.

In March, 1853, Mr. Foote, with a number of other leading citizens, organized the Evergreen Cemetery Association, and three years later he was chosen one of the trustees. One month later he was elected sec- retary and treasurer, and has held that position ever since.

Regularly upon the day appointed for the meeting of this association Mr. Foote appeared in his place, and kept the records and business in such order that a wholly inexperienced hand could take his books at any time and carry forward the business at any meet- ing of the association.

When the First National Bank of this city was organized fifteen years ago, Mr. Foote was one of the original incorporators, and has been a director ever since. Three years after the establishment of the First National Bank, the Dime Savings Bank was incorporated, and here again Mr. Foote appeared as incorporator, and also vice-president.

One would suppose that attending to the necessary duties of all these institutions and editing a paper were work enough for one man, yet Mr. Foote did much more. During the war he was for five years collector of internal revenue, and thongh he then created irritation by the stern and conscientious ex- actness with which he applied the law and discharged his arduous duties, yet those who were then annoyed now admit the justness of his requirements, and can- not but praise his official integrity.

For years, too, Mr. Foote was assessor, and this was about the only office to which he was ever elected. It was not by any means in Mr. Foote's desire to be a public man, in the sense of one elected to public offices.

In still another department of life did Mr. Foote do a vast amount of labor, and that gratuitously. He was chosen in numberless cases as executor or administrator of estates, in settling disputed accounts, and as a peacemaker between parties who could not or would not agree with each other upon some disputed points. Many a time has Mr. Foote set aside work and time, far more valuable to him than the matter in dispute possibly could be, to settle some trifling affair between parties who would hear of no other arbitration than his judgment. Peace was his great desire, peace and good will his ever-potent remedy for all annoyance, and peace is his at last.

The latest accession to the many associations with which he was connected was the Board of Trade of this city, in which he was an active member, and slighted not in the least the duties which an active membership in this board necessitates.

In 1840, Mr. Foote was married. He had a family of nine children, seven of whom are now living to mourn a loving, Christian father's death.

Mr. Foote was born at Newtown, Conn., Oct. 23, 1816, and died at Elizabeth, N. J., March 18, 1879,

aged sixty-three years. For years he had been com- plaining, but his extraordinary energy kept him up. In the summer of 1873 he visited Europe for three months and was greatly benefited in health. Grad- ually, however, his old disease returned and took firmer hold than ever before, terminating fatally in the early spring of 1879.

From the Daily Journal of March 19, 1879, under the head of "The Vacant Chair," we quote some ex- tracts relating to Mr. Foote's characteristics as an editor and journalist :

" Mr. Foote was, in the best sense of the word, a self-made man. . . . He was but a mere stripling when he came here and identified himself with the fortunes of this city. Henceforth, for many years, bis record may be read of all men in the characters hie formed and moulded and the intelligences he developed. Here the highest tribute may be paid to his fidelity and trustworthiness, He insisted upon a lofty standard of scholarship and conduct, and he secured not only that end, but also in the strongest manner the respect and affections of his pupils. . . .

" But if his career as a teacher was a success, not less has he made his mark upon the community as a journalist. For this task he had admir- able qualities. His industry was unfailing, his experience large and varied, and his local knowledge, both of persons and things, unboundedl. As prominently identified with most of the leading institutions of the : city, he had acquaintance with our needs, and this local knowledge waa lavished upon his paper. He took a strong, practical, common sense view of things, exhibited unusual discretion and tact in shaping the course of his paper, and had a keen sense of what a local sheet should be. Cantions in taking a position, he required very convincing argu - ment to abandon it when once taken. Habitually courteous and mod - erate in the expression of editorial opinion, he yet knew how to use the most vigorons Saxon when the nature of the case called for it, and his lash has more than once administered merited castigativo. His idea of editorial writing was to have something to say and to say it, and not write fine words against space.

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History of Union and Middlesex Counties, New Jersey with Biographical Sketches of many of their Pioneers and Prominent Men, Part 32

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed. Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts Number of Pages: 1224

Author: W. Woodford Clayton, Ed.
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Philadelphia: Everts
Number of Pages: 1224