USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Warren County, New Jersey > Part 32
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other historical material, local and national. He was secretary of the committee to obtain funds for a monument in Phillipsburg in memory of the soldiers and sailors of the civil war. Dr. Griffith is also one of the three trustees of the Standard Silk Mills, which employs nine hundred persons. He has been mayor of Phillipsburg. In 1897 he was appointed one of the pension examiners for the fourth congressional district. He is past grand master of the Grand Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of New Jersey, and was elected in 1897 chairman of the judiciary committee of the Grand Lodge; past chancellor of the Knights of Pythias and a member of the uni- form rank; past regent and medical examiner of the Royal Arcanum. He is president of the board of trustees of the Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Dr. Griffith married, August 28, 1869, Ella K., daughter of William and Susanna (Knight) Knowles. One of her Knight ancestors came to this country with William Penn. Originally a Quaker, Mrs. Griffith has become a member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church. She is very active in religious work, and is president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union of Phillipsburg.
McCAMMON Alexander McCammon, the founder of this family, was born in Scotland, and came with his two brothers to this country, after the death of their parents. He settled near Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, in Northampton county, as a farmer. His brother, John, settled in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, and the other brother, Daniel, who spelled the name McAlmond, set- tled in New York state, and all his descendants now live in Kansas and Arkansas. Alexander married a woman whose surname was Kliandupe. Children: Samuel, referred to below; Daniel; Elizabeth; Anna; Susan; Sarah. All are now deceased. (II) Samuel, son of Alexander and (Kliandupe) McCammon, was born in Monroe county, Pennsylvania, September 30, 1812, died February 6, 1895. He was a farmer, owning several farms, one in Mt. Bethel, Northampton county, Pennsyl- vania, one near Belvidere, in Warren county, New Jersey, one at Pen Argyle, Pennsylvania, one at Catasauqua, Pennsylvania, and another at Stone Church, North- ampton county, Pennsylvania, which was his last place of residence. In addition he was a carpenter and contractor and a good mechanic. He and his family were mem- bers of the Reformed church, and he was for many years deacon and a member of the consistory. As long as the Whig party existed he was a Whig; afterward he was a Democrat. In Northampton county he served as county commissioner and assessor, and at one time he was captain of a military company. He is buried at Three Churches, Mt. Bethel township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. He married Susan Muffley, born September 21, 1810, died February 8, 1893. She was connected with the Keller family. Children: Aaron, referred to below; Lucy Ann, widow of Alexander Hahne; Caroline; John; Elizabeth; Maria.
(III) Aaron, son of Samuel and Susan (Muffley) McCammon, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, June 22, 1843. He was educated in the public schools and Belvidere Academy, and spent his early life on the farm. Having com- pleted his education, he taught school for about four years. He next accepted a posi- tion as clerk in a leather and shoe finding store at Easton, where he remained one year, then going to Belvidere he became a clerk in Loder & Wade's general store, which position he kept for three years. In 1869 he went into the hardware business for himself, at Belvidere; he left this position in 1895 to take part in the organization of the Warren County National Bank of Belvidere, of which he was made cashier. He was also one of the organizers of the Second National Bank of Phillipsburg. Being made cashier of this bank, he resigned the position at Belvidere, but his resig- nation was not accepted, and for some time he was the cashier of each of these banks. He is still cashier of the Second National Bank of Phillipsburg, having held this posi-
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tion continuously since its organization. Mr. McCammon is a Democrat, rather inde- pendent, however, and not strongly partizan. He has served two terms in the town council of Belvidere, and at one time was a member of the Knights of Pythias. He first joined the Reformed church, at Stone Church, Pennsylvania, and when he came to Belvidere united with the First Presbyterian Church, and since 1881 has served as an elder, having held this office longer than any other person on the board to-day.
He married (first), November 24, 1868, Clara Virginia, daughter of Isaac and Sarah (Grim) Reich, who was born September 17, 1850, died December 29, 1906. She was a descendant of Baron Steuben. She was an earnest member of the First Pres- byterian Church, and always actively interested in its work. She and her son are buried at Belvidere. Mr. McCammon married (second), June 1, 1910, Bertha, daugh- ter of Henry Killian. They reside on East Water street, Belvidere. Child of Aaron and Clara Virginia (Reich) McCammon, a son, born April 25, 1871, died May 30, 1874.
The first member of this family of whom we have definite information
ASHMORE is an Ashmore who married Jane Swangle. Children: Sally; Maria; Jane; Nancy; Cornelia; John; William, referred to below; Henry; Isaac Snowden; Thomas.
. (II) Captain William Ashmore, son of and Jane (Swangle) 'Ashmore, was born in Trenton, New Jersey, in 1804, died at the age of eighty-five. He was a man of considerable prominence and followed the life of a sailor constantly until he retired. At one time he was a captain of a sailing vessel plying between New Brunswick and New York. During the civil war, he was in the service of the government and trans- ported troops by the James river to Richmond, Virginia. In his early days he was a Democrat, but he afterward affiliated with the Republican party.' He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Captain Ashmore married Frances Dear, daughter of Clark and Mary (Guild) Chambers, who was born at Antrim, Ireland, died in Trenton in 1747, at the age of seventy. He came to America about 1730, and built a mud house on the northeast corner of Second and Quarry streets, now State and Willow streets, Trenton. Alexander, one of his sons, born in Ireland in 1716, died in Trenton, September 16, 1798, was the father of Colonel David Chambers, who was born in 1748, and died in 1842. Colonel David Chambers was in active service during almost the entire revolutionary war, first serving as colonel of the Third Hun- terdon Regiment, and afterwards as colonel of the Second Regiment. Clark Chambers, his son, born in December, 1782, married Mary, daughter of John and Abigail ( Howell) Guild, who was born November 17, 1784. When Lafayette revisited the United States, in 1824, he was greeted at Trenton by a chorus of twenty-four young women, repre- senting the states then in the union, who, marching in front of the great procession, strewed flowers in his path and sang patriotic songs. Frances Dear Chambers repre- sented in this chorus the state of Maine. Of those who took part in this demonstration, she was the last survivor. She recalled vividly, until within a few days of her death, the circumstances of Lafayette's visit and often repeated his cheering remarks to the members of the chorus. This historic event was recalled in connection with Mrs. Ashmore's death by the State Gazette of Trenton, which also reproduced a beautiful portrait of Mrs. Ashmore. She was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian church and for sixty years consecutively held the same pew. Children of William and Frances Dear (Chambers) Ashmore: Henry, now deceased, married Mary Rowley, and lived in Easton, Pennsylvania; Mary, now deceased, married John I. Kinsey, of Easton, Pennsylvania; Jennie, who resides in Brooklyn, New York; William Alexander, re- ferred to below; Fannie C., married John J. Sager, of Brooklyn, New York; Emma F., died at the age of ten years.
(III) William Alexander, son of William and Frances Dear (Chainbers) Ash-
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more, was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, June 28, 1840. When he was two ยท years old his parents returned to Trenton and he was educated in the public schools and academy of that city. At the age of fifteen he began to make his own livelihood, working first as a clerk. A few years later he accepted a position as clerk in the state house, under Governor Charles S. Olden. Having held this position for three years, he enlisted in Company A, National Guard, of Trenton. Lee's invasion of Pennsyl- vania had caused the governor of that state to ask assistance from adjoining states. Mr. Ashmore, with others, enlisted June 17, 1863, and served to July 16, 1863. The company was sent to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, then was stationed at Peter's Moun- tains, near Duncannon, Pennsylvania, for the period of their enlistment. In Novem- ber of the same year, Mr. Ashmore went to Easton, Pennsylvania, in the employment of the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He was ticket agent at Easton for eight years, after which he assumed charge of the freight and transfer department office in Phillips- burg. Mr. Ashmore was retired May I, 1910, on a pension by the Central Railroad of New Jersey. He is one of the most esteemed citizens of Phillipsburg, and the mem- bers of his family have all been a credit to the family which they represent. They are Presbyterians and attend the First Presbyterian Church of Phillipsburg. . Mr. Ashmore now resides at No. 91 South Main street, having purchased this house in 1895 from Matilda McCrystal and her husband Michael, of Philadelphia. He is past master of Easton Lodge, No. 152, Free and Accepted Masons; past high priest of Easton Chap- ter, No. 173; past eminent commander of Hugh de Payen's Commandery, No. 19; and a member of John G. Tolmie Post, No. 50, Grand Army of the Republic.
He married, January 3, 1872, Alice, daughter of Adam and Rachel (Arnold) Reese. Children : I. William Reese, born March 17, 1874, lives at home and is a flagman in the employ of the Pennsylvania railroad, running between Phillipsburg and Trenton. 2. Rachel, born December 28, 1880, graduated in 1898 from the high school, and taught for eight years in the schools of Phillipsburg; married Samuel O. Kleinhans, and re- sides at Easton, Pennsylvania.
HERBERT The Herbert family has been identified with New Jersey from the earliest times of the colony's history. Francis Herbert, the first of the family in Monmouth county, is claimed to have been a grandson or great-grandson of Philip, fourth earl of Pembroke, England. His mother, Bridget Herbert, and himself, and possibly one or more brothers were in Monmouth before 1671. It is possible that his father's name was Walter Herbert, and that Walter Her- bert who was licensed in New York to marry Mary Barnes, August 14, 1678, was his older brother. Francis Herbert died in 1719. He married Hannah, daughter of John Bowne; children: Thomas, Francis, Samuel, Obadiah, referred to below, Elizabeth, Bridget, Mary.
(II) Obadiah, son of Francis and Hannah (Bowne) Herbert, married, in 1729, Hannah, daughter of William Lawrence. Children: Obadiah, married, in 1765, Eliza- beth Warne; John, married, in 1749, Elizabeth Smyth; William; Francis; Richard, married, in 1767, Mary Seabrook; Felix, married, in 1778, Catharine Carr; Hannah, married, in 1769, James Whitlock; Ruth, died in 1795 or 1796, unmarried.
(IV) John Herbert, probably son of one of the above-mentioned sons of Obadiah and Hannah (Lawrence) Herbert, was born about 1765 or 1766, died at the age of ninety-three years. He settled in Bound Brook, Somerset county, New Jersey, where he became a well-to-do farmer, owning a plantation of one hundred and sixty-three acres and twenty slaves, one of whom, named Peggy, was the nurse to three genera- tions of his family and was over a century old when she died. He gave the land for the first schoolhouse in his locality, and erected a mill which was operated by his son for many years after his death. In religion he was a Presbyterian. The name of his
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first wife is unknown, he married (second) Jane -, who survived him about three years and died aged about ninety years. Children : Julia, married John Vanderveer; Phebe, married - Vanderbilt; a daughter, married -- Post; John, referred to below; Sarah, married Burr Tucker.
(V) John (2), son of John (1) and Jane Herbert, was born in Bound Brook, Somerset county, New Jersey, in 1814, died in 1886. He received a common school education, inherited the old homestead, and learned the trade of a miller. About 1861 he purchased two grain mills and a sawmill at Bloomsbury, which he operated in addi- tion to the one bequeathed to him by his father, and although the sawmill was burnt down, he ran the grain mills until 1883, when he sold them and retired from active business. Mr. Herbert was mainly instrumental in the establishment of the first bank at Bound Brook, and for a long time was one of the directors of the Somerset County Bank at Somerville, New Jersey. He was a Democrat in politics and a Presbyterian in religion. He married (first) Mary Ann Fields, who was born at Raritan, New Jersey, and died a comparatively young woman about 1856. He married (second) Widow Mary Rippleys, and (third) Anna Hance, who survives him and is now (1910) living at Freehold, New Jersey. Children, all by first marriage: I. John, born Feb- ruary 13, 1847, living at Dunellen, New Jersey, a conductor, running between Phillips- burg and Jersey City, on the Central Railroad of New Jersey. 2. Sarah, married William L. Wert, of Bound Brook. 3. William Fields, referred to below. 4. Mary, married William Kilpatrick, of Newark, New Jersey. 5. Jane, died in infancy. 6. Henry G., living at Bound Brook, and cashier of the National Bank there.
(VI) William Fields, son of John (2) and Mary Ann (Fields) Herbert, was born on the old homestead in Bound Brook, and is now living in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. He received his early education in the little school erected on the land given for that purpose by his grandfather, and later graduated from the Bound Brook Seminary. He learned the trade of miller and for a time operated several mills. In 1881 he gave up the milling business in order to learn railroading, and secured a position as fireman with the Central Railroad of New Jersey. Two years later he was promoted from a freight to a passenger run and after nine years of this work he was promoted again to the position of freight and extra passenger engineer. This position he held from 1892 to 1907, running between Phillipsburg and Jersey City, and then resigned to become engineer for one of the locomotives of the Vulcanite Cement Company, at Vulcanite, New Jersey. Mr. Herbert's home, which is one of the picturesque sights of Phillips- burg, was erected by him in, 1893, on the corner of Chambers and Bennett streets, where one can obtain a most magnificent view of the surrounding country with the Delaware and Lehigh Valley rivers winding through it like glistening ribbons, and the city of Easton nestling in the valley just across the state line. Mr. Herbert is assistant secretary of Excelsior Lodge, No. 11, United States Brotherhood of Firemen and Engi- neers, a member of Bethlehem Lodge, No. 140, Free and Accepted Masons, of Blooms- bury, New Jersey, and being admitted in 1875 is now the oldest member in the lodge. He is also a member of Eagle Chapter, No. 30, of Phillipsburg, and of DeMolay Com- mandery, No. 6, of Washington, New Jersey. He is a Republican in politics and a Presbyterian in religion. He married, February 30, 1869, Maria S., daughter of John R. and Mary (Mundy) Parsells, of Asbury Park, New Jersey. Children: I. William, referred to below. 2. Mary F., born September 31, 1872. 3. Charles, born March 16, 1875, married Lillie Bowers, and lives at Hackettstown, a United States railway mail clerk on the Lackawanna railroad. 4. Edgar, born August 4, 1876, married Anna, daughter of Evan Buckman, living at Easton, Pennsylvania. 5. Frederick, born July 14, 1881, married Eva Major, living in Phillipsburg, Pennsylvania.
(VII) William, son of William Fields and Maria S. (Parsells) Herbert, was born at Bound Brook, New Jersey, June 29, 1870, and is now living in Phillipsburg, New
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Jersey. He received his education in the public schools, and in May, 1887, entered the employ of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, as a wiper in the roundhouse at Phillipsburg. Eighteen months later he received his promotion as fireman, his first regular run being with Engineer Kelley, on the freight between Phillipsburg and Rock- away, New Jersey, and later between Jersey City and Scranton, Pennsylvania. In October, 1902, he was promoted engineer, and after running an extra engine for six years, he was put on the fast evening freight between Jersey City and Phillipsburg. His present run is between Jersey City and Tamanend, Schuylkill county, Pennsyl- vania. He is a Democrat in politics but not an active one, and a Presbyterian in relig- ion. He is a member of Malaska Council, Junior Order of American Mechanics, and Division No. 30, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He married, April 15, 1891, Mary, daughter of David and Anna (Hackett) Neighbor. Child: William David, born November 2, 1896, a student in the Phillipsburg schools.
SHAFER Jacob Shafer, the first member of this family of whom we have definite
information, was a soldier in the war of 1812, and a blacksmith. He died in 1848, aged over eighty years. Of his seven children, Solomon died young; Frederick is referred to below; John removed to Wisconsin, and Jacob to Ohio. (II) Frederick, son of Jacob Shafer, was born in Forks township, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1803, died February 3, 1890. He was a farmer, a Demo- crat and a member of the Reformed church. He was active in local politics and served as a member of the county poor board, and as a school director. He was also a mem- ber of the building committee of the Reformed church where he lived. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Paul, of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, and later of Monroe county, Pennsylvania, who was born January 8, 1805, died June 2, 1863. Children : I. Mary, married John P. Wilauer. 2. John, born in 1829, died in 1909. 3. Samuel, born November 30, 1830, died in 1895. 4. Hannah, born in September, 1832, died in 1895, married Jackson Snyder, of Forks township. 5. Elizabeth, born in Au- gust, 1834, died in 1898; married Hiram Messinger. 6. Sovina, born in September, 1836, died in January, 1900; married Edmond Engler. 7. Sophia, born November 12, 1838, died in May, 1904; married Henry Thompson. 8. Frederick, referred to below. 9. Eliza, born in August, 1846, died in May, 1903; married David Brown. 10. Sarah Amanda, married Edmond Bowers. 11. Emma, born in 1848, married Frederick Miller. (III) Frederick (2), son of Frederick (1) and Elizabeth (Paul) Shafer, was born September 27, 1840, and is now living in the suburbs of Easton, Pennsylvania. He re- ceived his education in the public schools, and after working on the farm for a while apprenticed himself at the age of twenty to Nathan Hutters, in order to learn the trade of miller. Three years later he and his brother John leased the mill from Mr. Hutters and ran it in partnership for two years. Mr. Shafer then went west for a while, but soon returned and obtained employment as a miller, with the firm of Armstrong, Baum & Company, of Philadelphia. Three years later he became partner in the milling busi- ness with Charles Mann, and after seven years of joint prosperity he dissolved the partnership in order to take charge of the mill of Jacob Walters, which he managed successfully for eighteen years. He then purchased a farm of fifty acres which he oper- ated for thirteen years more, selling out in 1909 to Edmond Frazee, and building his present home at Bushkill Park, Forks township, just outside the limits of Easton, Penn- sylvania. He has been deacon in the Reformed church for three years and an elder for six. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served as supervisor of his township. He married (first) in November, 1868, Augusta, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Flight, who was born in 1848, died in 1875. He married (second) Emma E., daughter of George P. and Susan Heller, who was born August 10, 1855. Children, four by first marriage: I. Frederick, born in 1870, married Violet Segerfried. 2. Eliza, born in
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1871, married Jacob R. Walter, of Easton, Pennsylvania. 3. Emina, born in May, 1873, married George I. Davidson. 4. Oscar Wilbur, referred to below. 5. Floyd R., born June 20, 1886, a graduate of Lafayette College, the Eastern Theological Seminary, and in August, 1910, was called to take charge of the church built by his grandfather. 6. Mattie Matilda, born September 20, 1887. 7. Stewart Heller, born February 6, 1889. 8. Norman Clide, born June 12, 1890.
(IV) Oscar Wilbur, son of Frederick (2) and Augusta (Flight) Shafer, was born January 7, 1875, and is now living in Phillipsburg, New Jersey, where he is one of the progressive business men of the town, highly spoken of by his fellow citizens as a man of integrity and ability. He was educated in the public schools of Easton, and while still a young boy served his apprenticeship to the trade of baker, in the shops of the Etchman bakery in Nazareth borough and Easton, Pennsylvania. In 1898 he set- tled in Phillipsburg, and for ten years conducted for himself a large bakery, enjoying a good patronage and being very successful. In the spring of 1910, having sold his bakery, he entered into partnership with Charles B. Sharp, to conduct a brokerage business in stocks and bonds. Mr. Shafer is always ready to help in any cause that will promote the interests of the community in which he lives. He is a Democrat in politics and has served on the school board as a representative of the fourth ward of the city. In religion he is a member of the Reformed church. He married, July 31, 1897, Emma Malinda Stipe. Child: Grace Eva, died aged one month.
COX Michael Cox, the first member of this family of whom we have definite in-
formation, lives at 214 Mercer street, Phillipsburg. He married Teresa Commiskey. Among their children is Edward Joseph, referred to below.
Edward Joseph, son of Michael and Teresa (Commiskey) Cox, was born March 14, 1883. He attended the public schools and St. Catharine's Academy, Phillipsburg, and at the age of fourteen entered the employment of Rader Brothers, at Easton, and was a clerk in their store for about eighteen months. Then he entered the employ- ment of the Standard Silk Company, with whom he remained for over nine years, being timekeeper and foreman in their factory, and on March 1, 1908, he purchased the hardware store of M. T. Hagerty, at Phillipsburg, which is one of the largest and finest in Warren county, and his business is large. Mr. Cox is a highly respected citi- zen and a capable business man. He believes in the principles of the Democratic party but he is not an office-seeker. He is a member of St. Philip's and St. James' Roman Catholic Church at Phillipsburg. He is a member of Warren Council, No. 474, Knights of Columbus; and a director in the Building and Loan Company, No. 6, of Phillips- burg. Mr. Cox married, June 3, 1908, Edith F., daughter of Frank and Eva (Waidner) Trunk, who was born in South Easton, Pennsylvania. Child: Frances T., born May 30, 1909.
READING John Reading, the founder of this family, emigrated to New Jersey with his wife and two children about 1685 or 1687, and settled in what was then known as the second or London tenth, because it belonged to the London company. When the town and township of Gloucester were laid out Mr. Reading became the owner of some fifty lots, besides many acres in the town, and about twelve hundred acres in the township. Adjoining him were six hundred acres belonging to Daniel Reading, who is supposed to have been his brother. Later on Mr. Reading sold much of this land and made purchases of large tracts in Amwell, Hun- terdon county. He represented Gloucester county in the council in 1687-88, was ap- pointed recorder of deeds and surveys, and was clerk and recorder of Gloucester county from 1695 to 1701. Desiring to give his children a better education than it was possible for them to obtain in New Jersey at that time, he sent them in charge of his
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wife to England, where they remained for nine years. Shortly after their return the family removed to Howell's Ferry or Mount Amwell. In 1707 he again represented Gloucester county in the provincial council, and at one time he and two others were employed as agents to pay the Indian chiefs, Coponokous and Nemhammoc, the bal- ance due on certain purchases of land and to buy additional tracts. He died in 1713 and is buried in the grounds of the Buckingham Monthly Meeting, Bucks county, Pennsylvania. He married Elizabeth Children: John, referred to below; Elsie.
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