USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Warren County, New Jersey > Part 27
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July 13, 1884, died October 22, 1884. 3. Mary Louisa, born June 13, 1885; married William E. Pickel; they have one child, Robert Stanley, born July 30, 1909; they reside at Greensbridge. 4. Helen E., born August 3, 1886, died June 7, 1908; married Will- iam C. Winter; they had one child, William Thomas, who died in infancy. 5. Thomas Stone Jr., born June 29, 1897. 6. Philip, born August 20, 1900, died April 2, 1901. 7. Stanley Bixler, born September 18, 1902. The deceased children are buried in St. James' Lutheran cemetery.
Hon. Charles B. Smith, M. D., is a leading physician of Washington, SMITH New Jersey, and has been five times mayor of the borough. He was born in Bethlehem, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1867, the only son of Alfred G. and Elizabeth (Cornish) Smith. His father was a native of Warren county, of this state, and during his early life operated a mill, till failing health forced him to retire from the business and seek employment of a different nature. He then purchased and cultivated a farm until the time of his death, accumulating a comfortable fortune. His home was near Asbury, Warren county, New Jersey. Politically, he was a Democrat, but never held nor desired public office of any kind. His father was Jacob Smith, a well-to-do farmer, of Hunterdon county.
The maternal grandfather of our subject was Joseph Cornish, a prosperous merchant of Bethlehem, whose son, Joseph B. Cornish, was the well known manu- facturer of organs and pianos of Washington. The only child of his parents, Charles B. Smith, was given every advantage that the schools of the county afforded, attend- ing both the grammar and high schools of Washington. His early boyhood years were passed on his father's farm, near Bethlehem, but from his fourteenth year he lived near Washington. He had a natural taste for medicine and, deciding to choose it as his profession, he began to study under a competent instructor. For two years he carried on his reading in the meantime teaching school, then entered the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Baltimore, Maryland, from which, after a three- years' course, he graduated with high honors, in 1891. After graduation, Dr. Smith engaged in the practice of medicine in Washington, New Jersey, where he has gain- ed an enviable reputation as a reliable and skillful physician and surgeon. His serv- ices are in constant demand and his practice extends into the surrounding country. The connection of Dr. Smith with civil affairs reflects credit upon his ability and proves his interests in the progress of his town. Like all members of the family as far back as the record extends, he is a staunch adherent of Democratic principles. In 1895 he was elected mayor of Washington, and in that position gave such uni- versal satisfaction that the following year he was re-elected by almost the entire vote of the borough. He again, in 1904, was called to fill the same position, being twice re-elected successively, the last time without opposition. It is largely through his wise administration of the affairs of his office that Washington has advanced as rapidly as it has in the way of improvements of all kinds. He has served also on the Washington board of education.
In fraternal matters he is a member of Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons; Temple Chapter, No. 12; DeMolay Commandery, No. 6; Mecca Temple, Ancient Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of New York City; Junior Order United American Mechanics; Royal Arcanum; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Ute Tribe, No. 80, Improved Order of Red Men; American Advocate Council, No. 64, Daughters of Liberty. He is a member of the New Jersey State Medical Society, the American Medical Association, Lehigh Valley Medical Asso- ciation, Tri-County Medical Association, of which he has been secretary since its organization; Medical Association of the Greater City of New York, and the New York and New England Association of Railway Surgeons. He is also director of the First National Bank of Washington.
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In 1893 the doctor erected a residence on West Washington avenue, where he inade his home until 1911, when he removed to his new home on Belvidere avenue. This property he recently purchased and remodeled, making it one of the most de- sirable and attractive homes in the borough. In 1891 he married Mary S., daugh- ter of Robert K. Richey, a retired merchant of Asbury, Warren county, and they have one child, Elizabeth. The doctor, with his wife, holds membership in the Presbyterian church, which he has served as trustee.
Josef Pardu, the founder of this family, was a native of Versailles, PERDOE France, where he was engaged for many years in the silk business, having learned the trade of a silk weaver, and after serving his ap- prenticeship going into business for himself. In December, 1799, he decided to emi- grate to America, and, with his -wife Polly, reached Castle Garden, February 22, 1800, and three days later their son was born at what was then called "the Point." Later he settled in Milford, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, with Daniel Tinsman and made his home in that vicinity the rest of his life, changing his name to Perdoe and his religion from the Catholic to Lutheran.
(II) William, son of Josef and Polly (Pardu or) Perdoe, was .born February 25, 1800, and died in 1879, at the home of his son, John C. Perdoe. In early life he was a farmer in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, but afterwards he came to Warren county and settled at Greensbridge, where he obtained employment first in lumber yard with Enoch Green for thirty years, later as a section foreman of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, having charge of a division between Phillipsburg and Springtown. He married Elizabeth Hartzell. Of their eight children, John C., referred to below, is the youngest.
(III) Hon. John C. Perdoe, son of William and Elizabeth (Hartzell) Perdoe, was born at Greensbridge, Warren county, New Jersey, August 5, 1848. Being obliged in his early days to earn his own livelihood, he was denied the opportunity of much school- ing In his youth he was employed for about three years by his brother and drove 'nules on the old Morris canal, and he has often stated that his main chance for an education lay in the perusal of books and newspapers, while he drove the teams. In 1867 he entered the employ of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, with which he remained for nearly a quarter of a century, rising to the position of conductor. In 1891 he was appointed to his present position as superintendent of the Phillipsburg cemetery.
Mr. Perdoe is one of the most prominent citizens of Phillipsburg. He is an ardent Republican, a man of the best of habits, a leader in his party and in local affairs. having been repeatedly nominated unanimously by his party for various offices. Although he resides in what is known to be a stronghold of the Democratic party, he has been elected to various important offices, always receiving a large number of votes from his friends and neighbors of the opposite party. In 1883 he was elected county freeholder and was re-elected for another term of five years. In 1894 he was clected mayor of Phillipsburg, and after serving one term he was renominated by the Republican party and endorsed by the other parties. In fact, no other candidate appeared in opposition to him. He has been defeated by the Democrats on two occa- sions; in 1897, for the state legislature; and in the fall of 1910. Men of all parties had solicited him to take the nomination for mayor again, in view of his excellent. former administration of the office; but the Democratic drift of that year included him among the unsuccessful contestants.
Mr. Perdoe is a member of Delaware Lodge, No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons; Eagle Chapter, No. 30, Royal Arch Masons; Warren County Forest, Tall Cedars of
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Lebanon ; Delaware Chapter, Order of Eastern Star. He and his family are Presby- terians.
Mr. Perdoe married, November 8, 1877, Carrie T., daughter of Israel Baldwin and Rebecca (Butler) Condit. Her father was justice of the peace in Hanover township, Morris county, New Jersey, for thirty years. Children : I. V. Rae, is the wife of Will- iam S. Neigh. 2. William I., a traveling salesman for Seamless Rubber Company, in automobile accessory department; married Laura J. Adams. 3. Clarence C., a grad- uate of Columbia College, now a druggist in New York City.
The Feit family of New Jersey is of French origin, its founder, Jean FEIT (John) Feit, having been born in the little village of Deux Ponts (English Two Bridges), in the Rhenish province of Alsace-Lorraine, March 16, 1714. He died in New Jersey, April 19, 1790. Emigrating to America in 1730, he settled in 1749 on a tract of seven hundred acres of land in what is now Greenwich township, Warren county, New Jersey, of which the greater part is still in the possession of his descendants. He married Maria Bender, who was born November 26, 1715, and died September 29, 1790. She was probably his second wife and a widow when she married him, as John Feit in his will, dated April 27, 1789, and proved May 17, 1790, names his stepdaughter Mary, daughter of Jacob Minier. Children: Magdalena, born July 4, 1742; Daniel, referred to below; Catharine, born December 24, 1750; John, September 8, 1756; Elizabeth, March 4, 1758. Magdalena, John and Elizabeth probably died young or unmarried before 1789, as their father mentions only Daniel and Catharine in his will and calls the former "my only son."
(II) Daniel, son of Jean (John) Feit, was born in that part of Morris county which is now Warren county, New Jersey, January 22, 1745, and died between 1803 and 1828. He married, March 6, 1770, Mary Kuhl. Children: Rebecca, born January 17, 1774; John, December 8, 1777; Elizabeth, February 16, 1780; Paul, referred to below; Anna, born July 8, 1785; Daniel, October 17, 1787.
(III) Paul, son of John and Mary (Kuhl) Feit, was born in what was then Sus- sex county, New Jersey, September 4, 1782. He married Catharine Oberly. Children : William, referred to below; Anthony, born August 8, 1813, died May 8, 1843, married Julia Boyer; Daniel, born September 27, 1815, died February 20, 1894; daughter, twin with Daniel, died in infancy; John, referred to below.
(IV) William, son of Paul and Catharine (Oberly) Feit, was born in Green- wich township, Sussex county, New Jersey, August 5, 1809, and died in the same place, now Lopatcong township, Warren county, New Jersey, February 1, 1875. He purchased from his father two hundred acres of the tract of land originally bought by his great-grandfather, in 1749, and became a man of much prominence in the com- munity. In his father's time the Lutheran congregation of the neighborhood had been holding services in the old log house built by Jean Feit, the emigrant. Later, principally through means furnished by Paul Feit, the first church, now known as the "Old Straw Church," was built and after Paul Feit's death his son William be- came one of the most prominent and influential members of the congregation. He was a Whig and a Republican in politics, served in several of the township offices, and in the state legislature in 1858-59. At the time of his death he was president of the Phillipsburg Savings Bank. He married, March 6, 1834, Eleanor, daughter of Joseph J. and Catharine (Butz) Jones, who was born near Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, April 3, 1815, and died February II, 1889. Children : Joseph, born January 21, 1835, died April 12, 1880, unmarried; John, born February 13, 1836, died July 19, 1903, mar- ried Mary A., daughter of Dr. William Shipman; Mary C., born September 19, 1838, living at Pine Grove, Pennsylvania; Sarah A., born January 20, 1841, died February 8, 1907; Paul W., referred to below; Eleanor H., born February 5, 1845; Henrietta C.,
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born December 5, 1847; George I., born August 20, 1850, married Edith Roseberry; Alice, born April 16, 1853.
(V) Paul W., son of William and Eleanor (Jones) Feit, was born on the old homestead in the house built by his father in 1836, and is now living there with his sisters, Eleanor H., Henrietta C. and Alice R. Feit. He has been a gentleman farmer all his life, and although he has a farmer on the place one of his greatest pleasures is to do actual work himself, and he is often to be found in the fields or barnyard. Mr. Feit is a very reserved man, a constant reader, and he has spent a great deal of time traveling through the west and in other places. He is a trustee of St. James' Lutheran Church and he is considered one of the most generous and liberal minded men in Warren county.
(IV) John, son of Paul and Catharine (Oberly) Feit, was born in Greenwich township, Sussex county, New Jersey, May 28, 1818, and died there, March 3, 1892. He spent his whole life on the homestead, living for the greater part of it in the old stone house; but in his later years he built himself a frame house near by and turned the homestead over to his son Jacob A. Feit. He is said to have been of a reserved disposition and to have found his greatest pleasures in his home and family. He was a trustee of the St. James' Lutheran Church for over fifty years and was noted for his devout and practical Christian character. Among other things, he and his brother Daniel had the remains of all the family gathered from their original burial places and reinterred in St. James churchyard, in order that they might be more reverently cared for. Towards the end of his life Mr. Feit purchased as a home for his wife and daughters, the beautiful residence at 109 North Second street, Easton, Pennsyl- vania, in which his daughters are now living. He married Anna, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Hubler) Baker, who was born July 12, 1815, and died March 29, 1896. Children : Matilda, born October 1, 1845, died December 12, 1850; Jacob Alfred, born July 17, 1847, died April 20, 1906; Emma Catharine, born September 30, 1848, died February 3, 1895, married Henry D. Richards; Susan Amanda, born November 13, 1851; Anna Sophia, referred to below; John William, born November 11, 1857, died February 5, 1862.
(V) Anna Sophia, daughter of John and Anna (Baker) Feit, was born on the old homestead, February 5, 1854, and is now living with her sister Susan Amanda in the home bought for them by her father, in Easton, Pennsylvania, whither they went to live, June 10, 1897, after their mother's death. From their childhood the two sisters were always devoted and enthusiastic workers for St. James' Lutheran Church, being especially interested in the Sunday school, in which they both taught classes for many years. Even now (October, 1909), that they have moved away and have identified themselves with St. Paul's Church in Easton, their interest in the old home church is still shown by their keeping up the financial aid they had before given to St. James'. They have spent much of their time traveling, and they have gathered many beautiful and unique souvenirs which decorate their Easton home. They are also the possessors of a large number of family papers of historic valne, which they prize very highly. Among these is the deed for the original grant to their ancestor, Jean Feit.
Jacob Bryant, the first member of this family of whom we have defi-
BRYANT nite information, lived in Spruce Run, Hunterdon county. He was a farmer and a carpenter. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was a regular attendant. A few years before his death he re- inoved to Washington, in the cemetery of which place he and his wife are buried. Children : Jacob, living in Washington, New Jersey; William R., referred to below; Jennie, now deceased, married Victor Haimer, and had one son, now deceased.
(II) William R., son of Jacob Bryant, was born near Spruce Run, Hunterdon
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county, New Jersey, May 11, 1841. In early life he lived on a farm, but learned the trade of carpenter. In 1868 he came to Washington, his present place of residence, and continued the trade of carpentry and soon began contracting, which he has steadily followed since. He has built about half of the buildings in Washington, including the new Methodist Episcopal Church, the First National Bank and the Skallerpark building; besides this he has done much work elsewhere, such as the Roman Catholic Church at Stanhope and a church at Mt. Lebanon, New Jersey. He erected his present dwelling at 131 West Washington avenue, and has built several other buildings for himself; he did also the greater part of the work of erecting the building of the Cornish Company. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has been trustee for many years. He is a Democrat but not active in politics. He is a member of Ute Tribe, No. 80, of the Red Men. Mr. Bryant married, January 3, 1863, Julia A., daughter of Richard and Margaret Farley, who was born at Califon, Hunterdon county, March 24, 1847. Children: 1. Jacob R., referred to below. 2. Emma, born August 20, 1867; married Frank M. Uehlein (see Uehlein I) ; they live in Passaic and have three children : Irene, Frank Matthew and William Bird. 3. Allie May, died' at the age of two years.
(III) Jacob R., son of William R. and Julia A. (Farley) Bryant, was born at Hampton, Warren county, New Jersey, April 16, 1865. He was educated in the com- mon schools and the high school of Washington, in which place he has resided nearly all his life. He was at first a clerk in the general store of A. W. Cleveland & Com- pany, remaining with them seventeen years and gaining a thorough knowledge of mercantile business. In 1893 he went into partnership with William E. Weller in the clothing business; four years later he bought the interest of his partner, and since that time he has conducted the business for himself. He has the largest men's fur- nishing and clothing store in Washington, and it will stand comparison with most of those in the large cities; by careful personal attention he has built up a prosperous business. Mr. Bryant is one of the most popular men of the town, yet quite reserved in his manner. He is a Republican in politics and has served three years as borough treasurer. He is a member of Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons; Temple Chapter, No. 12; DeMolay Commandery, No. 6; Mansfield Lodge, No. 42, In- dependent Order of Odd Fellows; Starlight Lodge, No. 112, Knights of Pythias; and Warren Council, No. 16, Junior Order of United American Mechanics; all of Wash- ington. He is a charter member of the Athletic Club of Washington and is its vice- president. He is a director of the First National Bank of Washington; a stockholder in the Washington and Easton Traction Company, and holder of the first bond issued by that company in this town. He is one of the three sewer commissioners of Wash- ington, having charge of the bonds. Mr. Bryant is a Presbyterian, and served on the board of trustees of the local church for nine years.
Mr. Bryant married, September 31, 1887, Lydia A., daughter of James and Rachel (Hann) Hance, who was born at Anderson, Warren county, February 18, 1866. Her parents are now both deceased, her father at the age of eighty-four, her mother at the age of sixty. Mrs. Bryant's father was at one time a farmer, but afterward re- . moved to Washington and had a butcher business. Mr. Hance was a Democrat, and was at one time steward of the almshouse. He and his wife were Presbyterians. There were four children: Alfred; John; Mary; and Lydia A., now Mrs. Bryant. Child of Jacob R. and Lydia A. (Hance) Bryant: Bessie May, born May 5, 1895, who is now attending school at Abbott Academy, Andover, Massachusetts.
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UEHLEIN Frank Matthew Uehlein, the founder of this branch of his name in America, was born in Grosshenbach, near 'Engelberg, Bavaria, Ger- many, March 21, 1833, and died in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, July 15, 1910. He was one of a family of three sons and one daughter. His two brothers Alois and Andrew Uehlein remained behind in the old country; his sister Clara accompanied her uncle to New York City several years before Frank Matthew Uehlein emigrated, and afterwards married Charles Decker, of Carbon county, Penn- sylvania. Shortly after the death of his parents, when he was sixteen years old, Frank Matthew Uehlein came to America and settled for a time in New York. City, where lie. engaged in the bakery business. Later he became connected with a bakery in Madi- son, Morris county, New Jersey ; and while there, the late P. T. B. Van Doren induced him to settle in Washington, where he opened a bakery in a small building on the site which later became the place of his residence. This was in 1863. He prospered and soon built up a large wholesale business which warranted him in eventually erecting the large brick building that has since been the home of the Uehlein bakery. Besides the bakery Mr. Uehlein established a plant for candy manufacturing in his section of New Jersey. For the last fifteen or sixteen years of his life Mr. Uehlein lived in retiremnt, having turned his business over to the control of his son George Rowland Uehlein, referred to below. He was a director of the First National Bank of Wash- ington for thirty years, and he was an original stockholder and director of the Wash- ington Water Company. He was one of the oldest Odd Fellows of the Weal Lodge, and a devoted member and officer of the Methodist church in Washington for many years. At the time of his death the following encomium, signed by the pastor of his church, was printed in several of the religious periodicals :
"Many years ago Brother Uehlein was converted and joined the Methodist Epis- copal Church, of which he was one of the most constant and helpful members ever enrolled on its records. His knowledge of God's Word was deep, his views of spirit- ual things were clear and sane, his prayers uplifting, his talk illuminating and help- ful. His last illness was painful and protracted, but here, as in his active life he mag- nified the grace of God. The hymn, 'Jesus, lover of my soul', was often on his lips, and he clung fondly and tenderly to that Name. In his wandering moments he repeated it over and over again in his native tongue, which he had not used for many years, and had apparently forgotten. "(Signed) F. L. WEST."
His long, useful life came to an end at a quarter before five o'clock on a Friday evening after a protracted illness of ten weeks. The funeral, which was conducted by his pastor and the Rev. C. K. Hutchinson, of Bayonne, New Jersey, was on the following Monday afternoon, and was attended by all of the representative citizens of Washington. The official board of the Methodist church passed resolutions that were read at the funeral, and the floral tributes were too numerous to count. He was buried in Washington cemetery beside his wife, whom he survived exactly thirty-four years and one day. He married, March 10, 1860, Lydia Ann, daughter of Edward and Margaret (Young) Bird, who was born May 5, 1836, and died July 14, 1876. Her father, Edward Bird, was born April 10, 1811, and died May 11, 1872; he married, March 27, 1835, Margaret Young, who was born March 7, 1812, and died January 20, 1879. Children of Edward and Margaret (Young) Bird: Lydia Ann, referred to above; John H., born April 22, 1838; Lawrence, April 10, 1841; Emeline, November 22, 1843; Rebecca Jane, June 4, 1845; Margaret Frances, November 23, 1848.
Children of Frank Matthew and Lydia Ann (Bird) Uehlein: 1. Frank Matthew, bern June 26, '1861; living on Main avenue, Passaic, New Jersey; married Emma
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Bryant (see Bryant II) ; children : Frank Matthew; Irene; William Bird. 2. John Edward, born May 22, 1863; living in Washington, New Jersey. 3. George Rowland, referred to below. 4. Alois, born March 10, 1867; died March 25, 1872. 5. Jennie Irene, born February 20, 1869; married James DeWitt Groff; children: Margaret Groff, born April 6, 1896; James DeWitt Groff, April 18, 1901. 6. Robert Millen, born May 8, 1872; living in Spokane, Washington. 7. Henry Augustus, born July 12, 1876; living in Passaic, New Jersey.
George Rowland Uehlein, son of Frank Matthew and Lydia Ann (Bird) Uehlein, was born in Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, June 4, 1865, and is now living in that town, of which he is considered one of the most successful business men. He received his education in the public schools of Washington. When he was seventeen years of age he entered his father's bakery in order to learn the business and on his father's retirement from active life, in 1887, he and his brother John Edward Uehlein succeeded to the management. Later Mr. Uehlein bought up the interest of his brother in the business and since then he has been the sole owner and manager. Sev- eral years ago he added a most excellent wholesale and retail ice cream department to his plant. He is a Democrat in politics, and for the past ten years has been a member of the board of education of Washington. He is a member of the Washington Ath- letic Club; of Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons, of New Jersey; of Temple Chapter, No. 12, R. A. M .; DeMolay Commandery, No. 6, K. T .; of Saloam Temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and of the Junior Order United American Mechanics; Modern Woodmen and Royal Arcanum. He married, April 22, 1890, Clara, daughter of Elisha and Martha (Lunger) Wolverton, who was born in Warren county, New Jersey, March 12, 1871. Child: Martha, born May 31, 1893.
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