USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Warren County, New Jersey > Part 40
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(VII) Stewart C., son of John (3) and Elizabeth (Fine) Pursel, was born Octo- ber 15, 1837; died July 13, 1905. He married, March 27, 1862, Catharine C. Stone, and among their children was William S., mentioned below.
(VIII) William S., son of Stewart C. and Catharine C. (Stone) Pursel, was born in Phillipsburg, Warren county, New Jersey, September 26, 1869. He received his education in the public schools of Phillipsburg, where he spent his boyhood and youth, and then entered on a mercantile career, as assistant in his father's store. When he was about twenty years of age he and his brother, John T. Pursel, took entire charge of the store and for five years conducted it under the firm name of W. S. & J. T. Pur- sel. They then admitted their brother, Theodore M. Pursel, into partnership with them and included a milling and coal business in their operations. Six years later the firm was dissolved and William S. Pursel engaged in the clothing business in Easton, Pennsylvania, where he had one of the best establishments of its kind in that city, at 401 Northampton street, in that city. He retired from the clothing business, July 1,
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1911. Mr. Pursel attends the Lutheran church of Phillipsburg, and is a member of Lodge No. 395, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of Phillipsburg, and of Chapter No. 1372, Fraternal Order of Eagles, of Phillipsburg. He married, November 8, 1901, Caroline, daughter of John D. Thomas, of Glendon, Northampton county, Pennsylvania. Children : Donald T., Helen Louise, Elizabeth Edna.
Joseph Bartels Cornish, the pioneer of the Cornish family in Warren CORNISH county. New Jersey, the son of Joseph B. Cornish Sr., and born in Bethlehem township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, April 3, 1834, and after a business career of more than half a century, died in the borough of Washington, Warren county, New Jersey, January 24, 1910.
He was educated in the public schools of his native county, after which he enter- ed the employ of his father in a country store at West Portal, Hunterdon county, New Jersey. In connection with his father he conducted an extensive mercantile business for a number of years. In 1865, immediately after the close of the war of the rebel- lion, Mr. Cornish removed to Washington, New Jersey, and formed a copartnership with his brother-in-law, Henry W. Johnson, and together they conducted a general store for a number of years. Their customers came from the remotest section of War- ren county, and Mr. Cornish became one of the best known merchants of the county, and formed many personal friendships which continued until the end of his life.
The increasing demand for organs in the homes of the people attracted the atten- tion of Mr. Cornish, and he was quick to discover the coming business in their sale and manufacture, and began to investigate the subject, which resulted in the opening of an office in Washington, the beginning of a retail business. He at first had his organs manufactured by Robert Hornbaker, in the first organ factory erected in Washington. The capacity of the Hornbaker factory soon proved insufficient to the growing demand made upon it by Mr. Cornish, and, after a careful consideration of the situation, Mr. Cornish decided to establish a factory under his own management and for his own personal use. The firm of Cornish & Company, composed of Joseph B. Cornish and Johnston Cornish, his son, was organized, and in 1880 they purchased the brick furni- ture factory at the corner of West Washington avenue and South Lincoln avenue, and from time to time the same was enlarged until the present extensive and commodious Cornish factory was established. In the course of a few years Mr. Cornish began the manufacture of pianos also, and that department has equalled and at times surpassed the manufacture of organs. In 1901 the Cornish Company was incorporated under the laws of the state of New Jersey, and Mr. Cornish was elected president of the com- pany, which position he held until his death.
In addition to his career as a business man, Mr. Cornish took great delight in having a hand in political affairs. He was a Democrat of the old school, and his keen foresight, shrewd counsel and able leadership advanced him to the position of a recog- nized leader of his party in the county as well as in the old fourth congressional district and the state. In 1868 and 1869 he served as secretary of the New Jersey senate. In 1872 he was nominated by the Democratic party as candidate for senator and was elected and served in the New Jersey senate from 1873 to 1875. He was a man of very strong characteristics, very forceful, but unassuming and unobtrusive; his friendships were exceedingly strong, and he had a faculty of always remembering his friends and they were equally loyal to him. His sympathy for the unfortunate was known throughout northern New Jersey, and his charity was extended to the worthy in every section. Mr. Cornish, although at all times a busy man, never failed to appre- ciate his home, and it may be truly said that he was a home-body, for the moment that his business engagements were completed he would be found mingling with the mem- bers of his family at the old homestead. The attachment existing between Mr. Cornish and his son, Johnston, was a matter of much favorable comment. Each had full and
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explicit confidence in the other, and to this fact may be attributed the success of their business operations.
Aside from the piano and organ business, Mr. Cornish was connected with only one other institution, the First National Bank of Washington, of which he was vice- president for a number of years, and at the death of the late Judge Hann, was chosen to succeed him as president of the bank.
Early in life Mr. Cornish was married to Adeline, daughter of the late Philip John- son, and one son, Johnston Cornish, blessed their union. Mrs. Cornish died in 1906. After coming to Washington he connected himself with Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons, of Washington, and held his membership in that order until the time of his death.
Johnston Cornish, son of Joseph Bartels and Adeline Cornish, was born in Bethle- hem township, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, in 1857, and removed with his parents to Washington when a small boy. He was educated in the public schools, after which he entered the business college at Easton, Pennsylvania, where he received that busi- ness education which was of much value to him in after life. After serving a brief time as assistant in the office of his father, he was received as a junior member of the firm of Cornish & Company, since which time he has been identified with the manage- ment of its extensive business.
At the time of the death of his father he was the secretary and treasurer of Cor- nish & Company, but immediately thereafter was elected as president of the company, which position he still holds, and it may be said that the business of the company has been more profitably and successfully conducted than at any other time. With the great competition in the manufacture and sale of musical instruments now prevailing throughout the country, Mr. Cornish has been successful in keeping his instruments in the front ranks and increasing the yearly sales. At this same time, Johnston Cor- nish was elected to succeed his father as president of the First National Bank of Washington, which position of trust and honor he still retains.
It may be said that the love of politics was inherited by him from his father, and when a very young man he was induced to accept the nomination for mayor of Wash- ington, New Jersey. He was elected, proved to be a successful manager of public affairs, and at the close of his first term as mayor was reelected without opposition. He was unanimously reelected for another term, thus acting for three consecutive terms. At the close of his last term as mayor in 1890, he was elected to the senate of New Jersey to represent the county of Warren, and at the expiration of his senatorial term was elected as a member of congress from the fourth district of New Jersey. After having served the people of his district in congress, he assumed active management of the piano and organ business, but in 1899 he was again nominated and elected as the representative of Warren county in the state senate and by an increased majority. At the close of his term he again became a private in the ranks, giving his entire atten- tion to the building up of the piano and organ business. In the fall of 1905 he was induced by his friends to again allow his name to be presented as a candidate for the state seniate, and he was elected. After serving another term of three years he again received the Democratic nomination for senator, without a dissenting vote, and was reelected by a majority which proved to be the largest ever received in Warren county, and the final returns showed that he had carried every voting district in the county with the exception of two small districts. Mr. Cornish, by reason of his experience and record as a legislator arose to a position that caused him to be recognized as a party leader, and for several years he has been one of the most influential men on the Democratic state committee.
Following in the footsteps of his father, Senator Cornish has been a liberal con- tributor to all worthy objects, and his hand of charity has been extended in many directions. He has formed friendships that are lasting, and to-day has an exceedingly
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strong hold on the people of his county. During the trying times of last winter at the state capital, Mr. Cornish proved to be a loyal supporter of Governor Wilson, and faithfully and fully carried out the pledges of his party and the will of his constituents. Mr. Cornish has always taken a great interest in the social affairs of his home town, and for a long time has been actively identified with the leading fraternities, including the Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Red Men and Elks.
Senator Cornish was married to Margaret Banker, of New York, in 1885, and has since resided in the old homestead on Belvidere avenue, Washington. One son, Joseph Banker Cornish, blessed their union in 1887, and when he reached the age of twenty-one he became interested in the Cornish Company, and is now its secretary, representing the third generation in the conduct and establishment of the business. He married Ellen Haggerty, of Phillipsburg, New Jersey, and occupies a home on Belvi- dere avenue, Washington.
MILLER Ardent love for the study of medicine has made Dr. Clyde Kennedy Miller, of Hackettstown, an eminent physician among the more success- ful practitioners of that profession in both county and state. Persistency in any calling will bring its rewards, but when efforts to attain success are urged for- ward by an inherent or inherited love for any pursuit, technical, professional or other- wise, the goal of the aspirant's ambition is generally reached. Such was the case with Dr. Miller. Bred to agriculture, he left the plough for a calling more congenial to his tastes, and in due time made his way unaided through two colleges, a scholarship having been taken from Easton Academy in 1901 ; it was a long course of training, but the wisdom of it was justified by the successful practice that followed.
Clyde Kennedy Miller was born July 7, 1882, in Harmony, New Jersey. He is the son of Amzi and Annie E. Miller, the former born September 14, 1860, and the latter February 19, 1862. Their other children were: Russell Cline, born September 14, 1890; Decker, born July 6, 1895; David Park, born January 1, 1901. Amzi Miller was a farmer, a member of the Presbyterian church and in politics a Republican. His wife, who was a native of Harmony, New Jersey, was closely identified with him in all that conduces to the prosperity, contentment and religious happiness of a home.
Dr. Miller studied at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1905, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy. His professional training was obtained in the Medico-Chirurgical College of Philadelphia, which conferred upon him, in 1908, the degree of Doctor of Medicine. He graduated with honors, being the winner of a hundred dollar gold medal, and while still a student he was president of the Ophthalmological Society of Philadelphia. It is worthy of note that his practice, which is one of the largest in the state, has been built up since 1909, that being the year in which he enter- ed upon his professional career in Warren county.
Dr. Miller married, January 1, 1910, Leah Lockwood, daughter of Charles Lock- wood and Margaret ( Keenan) Ingraham, of Newark. Dr. and Mrs. Miller are mem- bers of the Presbyterian church, and are otherwise identified with the social and relig- ious life of the beautiful little city in which they reside. Dr. Miller is a member of the Hackettstown Club and holds a directorate in the People's Bank, also in the National Bank. His remarkable practice in Hackettstown, however, had its rise in the beginning of his professional career and was owing, not to his social standing, but to his very successful treatment of a number of cases which had hitherto defied medical skill: Most certainly Dr. Miller's professional pathway has been a bright and shining one up to the present time.
Mrs. Miller is a granddaughter of Thomas Keenan, the Evangelist, well-known among railroad men, especially those of the Gould system, throughout the south and southwest.
Mr. Keenan is an historic character. He came to this country in his mother's arms
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about seventy-one or seventy-two years ago, and in 1856 entered the service of the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Company, remaining until 1904, when he was retired on a pension. All this time he served as an engineer with the exception of one year when he had charge of a locomotive on the Central Pacific railroad in California. Mr. Keenan married, in 1858, Almira Baldwin, and they became the parents of two children, one of them a daughter, Margaret, who became the wife of Charles Lockwood Ingra- ham. Mr. and Mrs. Ingraham had three children: Eugene Millington; Cosby Sey- mour; Leah Lockwood, born September 19, 1886, in Newark, New Jersey, and is now the wife of Dr. Clyde Kennedy Miller, as mentioned above. Mrs. Ingraham died at the early age of thirty-four.
Although born in 1835 Mr. Keenan still possesses the health, strength and appear- ance of a man not yet more than fifty years old. His earlier career was a wild one, he being "full of carnality and sin," to use his own words. But his transformation when converted was most thorough and complete. It was effected suddenly, when on his locomotive, going at the rate of forty miles an hour, since which time his work as an evangelist has been kept up at about that speed. The change of life, from the old to the new, was so radical, and so consistent has been his conduct on the higher spirit- ual plane, that "Tem Keenan," as he is familiarly called, enjoys the respect of every- one. It is safe to say that no preacher of the gospel in the state of New Jersey is more highly regarded as a man than is Thomas Keenan.
Van Cleve Brugler, vice-principal of the Hackettstown high school and BRUGI,ER instructor in mathematics and sciences, is a representative of a family of Dutch origin. The immigrant ancestor was probably the first of the name who settled in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. He came to the latter province early in the eighteenth century and made his home near Columbia.
(II) Henry Brugler, son of the immigrant ancestor, married Martha -, and their children were: Peter; James, mentioned below; Henry. Henry Brugler, the father, is huried at Hainesburg, New Jersey.
(III) James, son of Henry and Martha Brugler, was born in 1779, at Columbia, New Jersey, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Ann Hagerman and their sen James is mentioned below. James Brugler died in 1852, at Warrington, New Jersey.
(IV) James (2), son of James (1) and Ann (Hagerman) Brugler, was born May 9. 1825, at Warrington, New Jersey. He was a farmer and a member of a church. He married, January 1, 1848, at Mount Hermon, New Jersey, Susannah Moot Konkle, and the following were their children: John Milton, mentioned below; Anna Mary, Emra Caroline, Charles Edward, Aaron C. and James Orison.
(V) John Milton, son of James (2) and Susannah Moot (Konkle) Brugler, was born October 5, 1848, at Mount Hermon, New Jersey, and was a farmer and breeder of thoroughbred stock. At the time of his death he was superintendent of the large stock farm of James Neilson, at New Brunswick, New Jersey. He was a Republican in politics and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He married, December 29, 1870, at Hope, New Jersey, Mary Elizabeth, born December 1, 1848, at Lebanon, New Jersey, daughter of Isaac Janson and Mary (Sutton) Decker. The former was born June 22, 1821, and was a farmer and stock dealer. He died August 14, 1888, at Belvidere, New Jersey. Mr. and Mrs. Decker were married August 24, 1843, at New Germantown, New Jersey, where the latter was born June 14, 1823. Mr. and Mrs. Brugler were the parents of the following children: James Janson, born May 8, 1872; John Milton, August 8, 1874; Van Cleve, mentioned below; Albert Dayton, July 3, 1870; Mary Susanna, August 30, 1881. Mr. Brugler died June 21, 1883, at New Brunswick, New Jersey, and his widow passed away October 28, 1907, at Belvidere, New Jersey.
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(VI) Van Cleve, son of John Milton and Mary Elizabeth ( Decker) Brugler, was born February 5, 1877, at Mount Hermon, New Jersey, and graduated from Honeywell Academy, of that place, in the class of 1894. He afterward studied much, sometimes alone and sometimes under the guidance of tutors. The summer of 1899 he spent at the Summer School at Chautauqua, New York. During the whole of his student life he devoted himself principally to science and mathematics. For the last sixteen years he has been engaged in educational work. For three years he taught in country schools, two years at Hoaglands and one year at Delaware. He was then for nine years vice- principal of the Belvidere high school, and in September, 1906, went to Hackettstown to fill the same position there. This he has done to the complete satisfaction of the students, their parents and his professional brethren, winning in addition the respect and confidence of the entire community. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and since January 1, 1908, has been superitendent of the Sunday school, during which time the attendance has nearly doubled.
Mr. Brugler married, December 24, 1907, at Belvidere, New Jersey, Grace Anna Emery, born at that place, December 3, 1886, daughter of Reeder Slack and Jennie Carter (Shields) Emery, the former a contractor and builder. Mr. and Mrs. Emery were the parents of the following children : Grace Anna, mentioned above; Elizabeth Shields, Minnie May. Mabel Louise, Russell John, Reeder S., Jeannette Carter and Paul. Mr. and Mrs. Brugler have one scn: Karl Edwin, born December 1, 1908.
Augustus W. Cutler, of Hackettstown, who has served as mayor of that
CUTLER place and has held other positions of responsibility in the gift of his fellow citizens, is a grandson of Joseph Cutler, who was a farmer cf Morristown, New Jersey, and served with the rank of colonel in the war of 1812. In politics he was a Whig. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Silas Condict. He and his wife were members of the Presbyterian church. Their children were: Silas, mentioned below; Abigail, James and Augustus.
(II) Dr. Silas Cutler, son of Joseph Cutler, was born in 1800, and passed his boy- hood in Morristown. He graduated at Princeton University and became a well-known physician. He married Sarah D., daughter of Stephen Vail, who died at Morristown, aged about eighty years. Dr. and Mrs. Cutler were the parents of the following children : Harriet; James, died in infancy; Augustus W., mentioned below; Jane; Sarah C., deceased. Dr. Cutler died in Morristown about 1846. His widow died at Sparta, New Jersey, at the age of seventy-six. She was a member of the Presbyterian church.
(III) Augustus W .. son of Dr. Silas and Sarah D. (Vail) Cutler, was born Sep- tember 2, 1840, at Morristown, and was educated at Nazareth and Deckertown. Since 1860 he has been engaged in farming, and now is the wealthy possessor of the experi- ence of fifty years' devotion to agriculture. Such has been his natural aptitude for his calling and such the wisdom which he has learned from experience and from all the sources of information within his reach, that he is to-day one of the most successful farmers of the county. He is an upholder of the principles advocated by the Demo- cratic party and has always been known as an actively public-spirited citizen. By the votes of his neighbors he was chosen to serve for three years as mayor of Hacketts- town, and during that time he discharged the duties of the office in a manner which left in their minds no doubt as to the wisdom of their choice. He has also filled the position of councilman, for fourteen years was a member of the board of freeholders, serving for twelve years as director of the board, and member of common council four years.
Mr. Cutler married, September 16, 1863, Catherine M., born at Chester, New Jer- sey, daughter of Caleb and Elizabeth (Overton) Fairclo, of that place. Mr. Fairclo was for the greater part of his life engaged in the hotel business. He and his wife
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were natives of Chester and were the parents of three children. Mr. and Mrs. Cutler have one son, now living in New York: Silas C., born November 21, 1864; married Angusta Valentine; children: Kathryn V., Augustus W., Ray W., Mande V.
Dr. Samuel Sherrerd Clark honored for more than a quarter of a century in CLARK Belvidere as an able and conscientious physician and a public-spirited citizen, belonged to a family widely known in northern New Jersey. The founder came to this country from England in the reign of George the Third, bearing a com- mission as justice of the peace, and settled in Middlesex county. His grandson, the Rev. Joseph Clark, D. D., laid aside the pen and left the pulpit to draw the sword (still kept as a family relic) in defense of his country. He served as chaplain in the revolutionary army, and died in 1807, at the age of sixty-one, in New Brunswick. He left four children: John Flavel, mentioned below; Peter I .; William Paterson; and Hannah, who remained unmarried. Peter I. Clark became a prominent lawyer. He resided at Flemington, and was at one time candidate for governor on the "Know- Nothing" ticket. He died a few years ago, leaving a widow. William Paterson Clark was for many years the leading physician in Belvidere.
John Flavel, son of Rev. Joseph Clark, entered the ministry of the Presbyterian church, having graduated at Princeton the year of his father's death. He studied theology at the Divinity College at Andover, where he was associated with Mill and others in the great movement that, from the "haystack prayermeeting" at Williams- town, resulted in the founding of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He became tutor at Princeton, and became successively pastor at Fleming- ton, where he remained twenty-five years, at Paterson, at Oyster Bay, at Cold Spring and at Matteawan, near Fishkill, where he died in 1853. He married Mary Sherrerd. He left three children: Mrs. Anne S. McGee; Margaret, wife of James Blair, of Scranton; and Samuel Sherrerd. He was named after his maternal grandfather and his uncle, John M. Sherrerd, was a prominent elder of the Presbyterian church in Belvidere.
Samuel Sherrerd, son of John Flavel Clark, was born November 8, 1825, at Flem- ington, New Jersey. In 1841 he entered Lafayette College, remained three years and then went to Princeton, graduating in the class of 1848. He took the usual medical course in the University of New York City, and then returned to Belvidere, to con- tinne his studies under the guidance of his uncle, Dr. William Paterson Clark, with whom he was subsequently associated. For thirty-seven years Dr. Clark practiced his profession in Belvidere. His kindness, his decision, his faithfulness, his exactness and his exceptional skill endeared him to the families in his large practice. His clear mind, his fine culture, his habits of careful study, his acquaintance with the latest and best results of science, placed him in the first rank in his profession. He was an active citizen, one whose influence was always felt as a power for good in the community. For many years he was a prominent member and a liberal supporter of the First Pres- byterian Church, in which for a long time he held the office of trustee. He was a man of fine literary taste and wide reading, a brilliant conversationalist, of unfailing wit and polished manners, the light of every drawing-room he entered. He was of a positive temperament, with a character deeply outlined in every quality, indelibly impressing itself on the minds and hearts about him.
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