USA > New Jersey > Warren County > History of Warren County, New Jersey > Part 42
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December 26, 1874; educated at Moravian Seminary, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 2. Allen, born June 8, 1881; educated at the public schools and at Palm's Business College, Phila- delphia: he has also taken a technical course with the International Correspondence School of America, Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is now a designer in a worsted mill at Plymouth, Massachusetts.
MEEKER The progenitor of the New Jersey branch of the Meeker family was William Meeker, who come to Massachusetts Bay Colony from England, about 1635, and removed thence to the New Haven Colony, of which he was one of the founders. Here he married, and in the spring of 1665, with his own family and other members of the New Haven Colony, whom tradition says he brought in his own sloop, he landed on the site that later became known as Elizabethtown Point, New Jersey, and with his eldest son Joseph was enrolled among the original "Asso- ciates"who acquired title to their lands by purchase from the Indians, as well as by grant from the royal governor, Nicholls. A portion of this ground now comprises the entire county of Union. Soon after the appointment of Sir Philip Carteret as pro- prietary governor of East Jersey, there came the troubles over the "land rights" and the revolt of the settlers against the proprietors, which resulted in the pardon episode and the flight of the governor. In all of these Willian Meeker took a prominent part, being chosen by the Associates, who forced his commission from Governor Carteret, as constable of the town; and when Captain James Carteret usurped the place of the absent governor, William Meeker became his active and enthusiastic adherent. For this offense his estate was confiscated in 1675, but the people of Elizabethtown and Newark appreciating his fidelity to and efforts in their interests, presented him with a tract of land, situated at Lyons Farms, where the old homestead of the family was erected by his son, and where the father died in 1690. William Meeker married (first) Sarah Preston, a native of Yorkshire, England, who had emigrated to the New Haven Colony, and who is generally considered to have been the mother of all of his children. In his will he names his wife Hannah, his three sons, and "my eleven grandchildren." Children : Joseph, born 1648-49, married, 1678, Comfort Marsh; Benjamin, born 1649, died at Lyons Farms, 1707, married, in 1678, Elizabeth Thompson; John, referred to below; Sarah, born 1653; Mary, born 1656.
(II) John, son of William and Sarah (Preston) Meeker, was born in New Haven, about 1660, and died in Elizabethtown, New Jersey, his will being proved February 18, 1730-31. In 1695 his name appears on the list of the second generation of Elizabeth- town Associates, and in 1699 he signed the petition to the king, complaining about and asking redress for the landright grievances. He married Hannah, daughter of Jona- than and Rebecca (supposed to be Wood) Ogden, of Elizabethtown. Children: John, born about 1690, died about 1731, married Joanna Ogden; Eunice; David; Robert; James, referred to below.
(III) James, son of John and Hannah (Ogden) Meeker, was born in Elizabeth- town, New Jersey, about 1709, and died there, January 11, 1777, aged sixty-seven years. He married Mary Crocheron, who was born about 1715, and died June 4, 1799, aged eighty-four years. She was possibly a daughter of John Crocheron Sr., of Staten Island, by his first wife. Children: Mary, born about 1739, died August 7, 1797. mar- ried (first, probably) Davis, and (second), June 30, 1762, Ephraim Sayre; Isaiah, referred to below; Anna, died young; Hetty, married Samitel Foster, of Lyons Farms; Hannah, married Edward Hill, of Basking Ridge; Frances, born about 1749, died December 24, 1793, married Walter Burrows; Rebecca, born about 1753, died December 16, 1839, married Simeon Morehouse; James, born about 1755, died March 3, 1828, was a revolutionary soldier, married Hannah Foster; Aaron, born October 28, 1757, died March 4, 1789, married, November 14, 1779, Hannah Lyon.
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(IV) Isaiah, son of James and Mary (Crocheron) Meeker, was born in Elizabeth- town, or in Connecticut Farms, Essex county, New Jersey, in 1740, and died in Turkey, or New Providence, in the same county, February 23, 1814, aged seventy-three years. He removed to Turkey, later known as New Providence, in 1775, and settled on No. 18 of the Elizabethtown lots, which was first owned by William Broadwell, and after Isaiah Meeker's death, became the home of Abraham Kent. He mar- ried, about 1765, Deborah, daughter of General Joseph Halsey, of New Providence, and widow of Jonathan Magie, who was born about 1745, and died March 6, 1836. Her father, General Joseph Halsey, was born about 1695, and died in 1771; he lived in Eliza- bethtown, near Wheatsheaf, and married (first) Elizabeth Harris, (second) Abigail -. Jonathan Magie, first husband of Deborah Halsey, was the son of Joseph and Margaret Magie, of Elizabethtown, and was born about 1741, and died July 14, 1763. Children of Isaiah and Deborah ( Halsey-Magie) Meeker: Abigail, born about 1767, died July 1, 1846, aged seventy-nine years, married, September 9, 1824, as second wife, Thomas Parrot, Esquire; Daniel Halsey, born about 1768, died May 27, 1798, aged thirty years, married, December 19, 1790, Sally, daughter of Captain Daniel S. Wood; Nancy, born about 1771, died July 30, 1842, aged seventy-one years, married, December 23, 1790, John Roberts; Caleb, referred to below; Jonathan Magie, born April 2, 1776, married Elizabeth, daughter of Richard and granddaughter of Effingham Townley, no children; Mary, married Arauna Muir, of New Vernon, Morris county, New Jersey ; Isaac, born about 1778, married at New Providence, March 5, 1808, Jane Wilcox, of Westfield.
(V) Caleb, son of Isaiah and Deborah (Halsey-Magie) Meeker, was born in New Providence, Essex (now Union) county, New Jersey, about 1772, and died January 8, 1815, aged forty-three years. In 1802 he was living at Springfield. He married Charity, daughter of John Mills and Esther (Broadwell) Frost, and stepdaughter of Ichabod Ward, of Morris county, New Jersey, her stepfather, who was her mother's second husband, being the great-great-uncle of Hon. Marcus L. Ward, the distinguished war governor of New Jersey. Charity Frost was born about 1778, and died February 10, 1850, aged seventy-two years. Children, the first five baptized at New Providence : Mary, or Polly, baptized December 18, 1806, died November 27, 1831, married Amos Wilcox; Nancy, baptized December 18, 1806, probably died young; Betsey Townley, baptized December 18, 1806, probably died young; Charity Frost, baptized December 18, 1806, probably died young; Caleb Halsey, baptized March 27, 1808, married Hannah Gillam; Jonathan Magie, referred to below; Isaac, born December 8, 1811, married Mehetabel Barnet Wilcox.
(VI) Jonathan Magie, son of Caleb and Charity (Frost) Meeker, was born in New Providence, about 1809. He married (first) Almira Vadir, and (second) Mary Elizabeth Delegar, of New York City. Child of first marriage: Frederick; of second marriage: Mary; Alvin; William; Theodore; Ellis; Jonathan Magie (2), referred to below.
(VII) The Rev. Jonathan Magie (2), D. D., son of Jonathan Magie and Mary Elizabeth (Delegar) Meeker, was born in Elizabeth, Union county, New Jersey, Sep- tember 20, 1850, and is now living in Hackettstown, Warren county, New Jersey. He entered Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, in 1869, but on account of ill health left college in 1872. He received his B. D. degree from Drew Theological Semi- nary, Madison, New Jersey, in 1880, his Ph. D. degree from New York University in 1888, and his D. D. degree from Wesleyan University in 1908. In 1876 he became the first state secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association for the state of New Jersey, and retained the position for three years, until 1879, when he was ordained as a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church. He was appointed as pastor of the Meth- odist Episcopal church, at Raritan, Somerset county, New Jersey, in the same year; of
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the church in South Orange, New Jersey, in 1880; of the one in Bound Brook from 1881 to 1883; of the Cross street church, Paterson, New Jersey, from 1884 to 1885; of the Emory church, Jersey City, from 1886 to 1888; of the Roseville church, Newark, New Jersey, from 1889 to 1892; and of the Hackettstown Methodist Episcopal Church in 1893. He was pastor of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1894 to 1896; of St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Newark, New Jersey, in 1897; of the First church, Orange, New Jersey, in 1898; of the Market street church, Paterson, New Jersey, from 1899 to 1903; and of the Park avenue church, East Orange, New Jersey, from 1904 to 1905. He became presiding elder of the Newark district of the Methodist Episcopal Conference in 1906, and held that position until June 3, 1908, when he was elected president of the Centenary Collegiate Institute, at Hackettstown, Warren county, New Jersey. where he now is. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of Xi (Wesleyan) Chapter of Psi Upsilon college fraternity.
He married, September 3, 1873, Fannie Storer Denman, of Elizabeth, New Jersey.
GROFF Aaron Groff, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, was born in Califon, Hunterdon county, New Jersey, Febru- ary 28, 1812, and died February 10, 1860. His father had emigrated from Germany, and settled at Califon, where he lived to an advanced age. It is said that he served in the revolutionary war. Aaron Groff was a farmer, owning at one time a farm of one hundred and forty-three acres, near Phillipsburg, on which he resided. He afterward moved to a farm in Hunterdon county. His residence, at the time of his death, was at Jutland, Hunterdon county. He was a Democrat in politics, very active in county affairs, and served as collector of taxes and as constable. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, at Clinton. Mr. Groff married, June 17, 1835, Mar- garet, daughter of Henry and Margaret (Creveling) Stires, who was born at Blooms- bury, Hunterdon county, September 25, 1817, and died July 20, 1893. Her father was born February 21, 1789, died June 25, 1858; her mother was born March 26, 1796, and died May 17, 1827. Their children were: Delilah, born July 19, 1815, died in March, 1817; Margaret, married Aaron Groff, referred to above; Mary Ann, born July 27, 1819, now deceased ; Daniel, born April 3, 1821, now deceased ; Alexander, born April 1, 1823, now deceased; Peter, born April 13, 1825, now deceased; William, born March 10, 1827, now deceased; Manning Force Matthies, born June 5, 1838, now deceased. Children of Aaron and Margaret (Stires) Groff : John C., referred to below; Sylvester, born May 30, 1838; Mary Elizabeth, born April 12, 1840, died March 10, 1911, married Mentus Gustavus Weik (see Weik in index), resides in Washington; Henry, born February 24, 1842, died in Washington, New Jersey, in 1903, married Hannah Fisher, children : Frank, Alfred D. and James F .; Alfred B., referred to below; Emma Caroline, born February 3, 1850, died July 14, 1900, married Mentus Gustavus Weik (see Weik in index) ; Hannah Ann, born September 17, 1852, died March 22, 1854; James DeWitt, referred to below.
(II) John C., son of Aaron and Margaret (Stires) Groff, was born in Hunterdon county, New Jersey, August 30, 1836. His early life was spent on the farm, and after his marriage he rented a farm which he managed for about four years; after this he was employed for a year in the Warren Foundry, at Phillipsburg, and then for another year in the freight office, at Phillipsburg, of the Pennsylvania railroad. Coming to Washington, he engaged for himself in the express and hack business and carried the mails. Three years later he returned to Phillipsburg and for five years kept a grocery store; he removed again to Washington, having sold his grocery business, and was for seven years in partnership with his brother Alfred B. He sold his interest to his young- est brother, James DeWitt, and went to Clinton, Hunterdon county, and for five years was engaged alone in general mercantile business. In 1890 he repurchased his interest
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in his brother's store, in Washington, and has continued in business with him. Mr. Groff is one of Washington's most respected citizens; he is independent in his political views, and has never accepted an office. The new Methodist Episcopal church, one of the first in the state, has a memorial window for his parents, and Mr. Groff and his family are members of this congregation. He is a member of Lodge No. 52, Free and Accepted Masons, of Phillipsburg ; of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and of the Knights of Pythias. While living at Phillipsburg, Mr. Groff was organist of the Methodist church and leader of the choir. He married (first), in 1861, Amanda Agin; (second), in 1876, Elizabeth Williams; (third), in 1903, Josephine, daughter of Lewis W. Langdon, of Chester, Morris county, New Jersey, widow of Seeley. Chil- dren of John C. Groff, except one who died in infancy, two by first marriage :" Maggie, married J. W. Ader, reside in Trenton, and have a daughter Ethel; a daughter, died in infancy; son, died in infancy; Anna, married George W. Kitchen, reside in Trenton, and have a daughter Florence.
(II) Alfred B., son of Aaron and Margaret (Stires) Groff, was born February 24, 1842, twin brother of Henry. He has conducted a general store in. Washington for over forty-six years, and has been in business for the longest period of his life of any citizen in Washington. He spent his early life on the farm, and received the education which the public schools of his day afforded. His parents came to Warren county when he was twelve years old, and he worked on his father's farm. In 1863 he came to Washington, and two years later 'established himself in general mercantile business. The first five years he rented a building and then purchased his present store from the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He has at various times purchased other valuable properties. His brothers have been associated with him in business, as mentioned above. Mr. Groff is interested in any movement for the welfare of the community. This effort to preserve the history of the county and its people has met his earnest approval and firm support. He is a member of the board of trade; his fraternal orders are the Red Men and the Junior Order of American. Mechanics, of which latter he is the oldest member. He is a Methodist in religion, and a Democrat in politics. He married (first), in September, 1886, Esther, daughter of Abraham Millick, of Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, who died in 1887, and is buried in the Washington cemetery. He mar- ried (second), March 6, 1888, Lydia, daughter of Alfred and Mary ( Ramsey) Gardner. Children, both by second wife: Willard M., born April 12, 1890; Helen M., March 15, 1894.
(II) James DeWitt, son of Aaron and Margaret (Stires) Groff, was born in Harmony township, Warren county, New Jersey, October 15, 1855. He spent his early life on the farm, attending the public schools of the township and of Washington borough. He was eight years old when he came to Washington. In the year 1871 he went into the office of the Washington Star to learn the printer's trade, and remained there eleven months. He was then appointed to a clerkship in the office of the freight department of the 'Delaware, Lackawanna & Western, at Washington, during 1872, which position he held until 1899, when he was appointed general agent, having full charge of the company's business at this important station, where he remained until 1900, when he resigned to obtain a much needed rest. The same year he accepted the position of secretary of the National Stool Manufacturing Company, a new company having been organized in Washington. The following year he resigned this position to accept the agency of the Central Railroad of New Jersey, at Mauch Chunk, Pennsyl- vania, and four months later he was appointed general agent for this company at Easton and Phillipsburg. In 1902 he left their employment to become accountant for the National Fireproofing Company, at Port Murry, but returned in 1906 to the service of the Central railroad for a year, at High Bridge. Then he was employed for a year as accountant, at Hoboken, with the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western railroad; his
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next position was that of traffic manager for the Cornish Organ & Piano Company. Since 1909 he has been accountant of the First National Bank. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Washington, and is serving at present on the board of stewards. He has been vice-president of the board of education for a period of six years. In politics he is an active Democrat, having been elected three successive terms a member of the common council and made president of the board. His fraternal orders are: Mansfield Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Masons; Temple Chapter, No. 12, Royal Arch Masons, of which he is past high priest; and past commander of DeMolay Commandery, No. 6; Knights Templar ; member of Warren Council, No. 16, Junior Order of American Mechanics, of which he is a charter member; and Starlight Lodge, No. 12, Knights of Pythias.
He married, October 17, 1894, Jennie Irene, daughter of Frank Matthew and Lydia Ann (Bird) Uehlein, who was born February 20, 1869 (see Uehlein in index), the Rev. J. R. Bryan, of the Methodist Episcopal church, of Washington, officiating. Chil- dren : Margaret, born April 6, 1896; James DeWitt, born April 18, 1901.
TINSMAN Peter Tinsman, the first member of this family of whom we have definite information, married Mary Hulshizer. Among their children was William, referred to below.
William, son of Peter and Mary ( Hulshizer ) Tinsman, was born June 8, 1818, and died March 1, 1885. He attended the public schools of Stewartsville, and spent his days on a farm, although he took a trip through the west. Liking his old home best, he returned to it, and at his father's death he and his brother bought the farm together, and their stepmother kept house for them. In 1863 he sold the farm and moved to Stewartsville, retiring from farming. He was a Democrat in politics, but did not aspire to office, finding his pleasure in his home. He is buried in the Lutheran cemetery, near Stewartsville. Mr. Tinsman married, October 6, 1861, Hannah, daughter of Daniel and Barbara (Wollever) Vliet, who was born in Hunterdon county, in April, 1832. She attended the Franklin public schools. Although a member of the Christian church, and a supporter of that church at Milford, she attended the Lutheran church. Mrs. Tins- man lives in New Village.
Otto Kaiser, proprietor of the Belvidere Hotel, Belvidere, is a native of KAISER the German Fatherland, having been born September 10, 1867, in Solingen, Germany. His father, Carl W. Kaiser, was a manufacturer of knives, razors, and other articles of cutlery for domestic use. The products of his factory were sold by traveling agents, many of them coming to the United States. In 1878 Mr. Kaiser came to this country, settling in Newark, and six months later was joined by his family. From that time to the close of his life he carried on an extensive business, being chiefly engaged in bottling beer. His wife was Augusta Bonnier, her father being French and her mother German. A family of ten sons and three daughters were born of this union.' Of these, two, Charles W. and Frank Kaiser, both of Newark, New Jersey, are connected with Otto Kaiser, as members of the Jersey Compound Company, of that city. The death of Mr. Kaiser, the father, occurred about 1890, and his widow is still living in the old house in Newark.
Otto Kaiser received his education in Germany and Newark, graduating from the grammar school of his adopted city. On completing his course of study he became associated in business with his father. His parents brought up their children in the German Lutheran Church, the father inculcating, both by precept and example, the strictest adherence to the principles of honesty, which he considered an essential ele- ment in a religious education. The influence of these teachings has shown itself in the
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successful careers of the different members of the family. Frank Kaiser is manager of the Newark Composition Flooring Company, and Charles W. Kaiser, patentee of the Acetylene Gas Container, is a chemist of considerable note. He graduated from the Stevens Institute, Hoboken, in the class of 1908, and is now in charge of the laboratory of the New Jersey Boiler Compound Company, of Newark.
In April, 1904, Otto Kaiser came to Belvidere to take charge of the Belvidere Hotel, having bought out the former proprietor. Prior to this the management of the hotel had not been attended by successful results, but under the proprietorship of Mr. Kaiser a new order of things was inaugurated, to the great satisfaction of the traveling public and the citizens of Belvidere.
MARTIN Michael Martin, the founder of the family of his name at present under consideration, was born in Germany, and emigrated to America in 1820. He left behind him in Germany two brothers, one a minister, the other He himself was a distiller. Reaching this country after a tedious and tempestuous voyage of ninety-six days, he finally settled at what is now known as Martin's Creek, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, where he died in October, 1888, aged ninety years. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Jacob Jumper, of Northampton county, Pennsylvania, who died about 1882. Children: John, Michael, Isaac, Joseph, Urich, Jacob, Charles ; Rebecca, married Edward Erie; Adam, referred to below; also four other children that died in infancy.
a physician.
Adam, son of Michael and Elizabeth (Jumper) Martin, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, January 1, 1855, and is now living in Phillipsburg. After re- ceiving his education in the public schools he spent three years as apprentice to a black- smith, and then going to Cedarville, Pennsylvania, obtained employment in the iron mines there. After spending three more years at this work, he gave it up in order to work for his brothers, who were conducting a wholesale liquor business in Mauch Chunk; but after working at this for eighteen months he accepted the position of agent for the Port Allen Iron Works at Wheelport, Pennsylvania. Four years later he was offered a much better place in Easton, with the Eastern Car Company, which he accepted, but gave up soon afterwards to take a still better one with the Andover Furnace Company. He came to Phillipsburg, New Jersey, in 1878, opened a grocery store there. He rebuilt and remodeled his store and building in 1909, and at the pres- ent date has one of the most complete grocery stores in the county; the new building is made of reinforced concrete. For twenty years he has been in the contracting busi- ness, building sewers and street paving, reinforced concrete and cement work. He is a charter member of Elks Lodge, No. 295. He is a Democrat in politics and a Luth- eran in religion.
He married, April 23, 1879, Martha, daughter of John Mutchler. Children: I. Emma, married John Long. 2. Harlem, married Sarah F. Hill. 3. Neva, married Charles Wilson. 4. Frederick. And two that died in infancy.
Henry Hawk Piatt, the first member of this family to become identified PIATT with Warren county, New Jersey, was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1832. He is the son of Frederick and Elizabeth (Hawk) Piatt, and his grandfather, Strauss Piatt, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, represented the third generation of the family in America, which is said to have come from Eng- land before the revolution.
Henry Hawk Piatt was one of a family of nine children, and, leaving home while a young man, he struck out for himself, coming to Warren county, New Jersey, and finding work as a mason, having picked up for himself a knowledge of this trade. Shortly after this he obtained a position with the Morris Canal Company, for whom
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he has been working ever since, being at present in charge of their lock No. 10, Plain, near Phillipsburg. During the seasons when the boats are not running he manages a small country store nearby. He is a member of St. James' (Straw) Lutheran Church, Greenwich township, New Jersey, and has for many years been treasurer of its Sunday school, held at No. 10 Plain school house. He is a Democrat in politics, and has served on the township school board. He married Catharine Reed, who was born June 5, 1833, and died December 19, 1881. Children : Josiah, born April 30, 1854, died June 7, 1881, unmarried; Edward, born March 20, 1856, living at 72 Summit avenue, Phillips- burg; Howard, born February 26, 1858, living on Mercer street, Phillipsburg; Mary E., born April 19, ISto; Samuel, born November 16, 1862, living at Bayonne, New Jersey ; Orton J., referred to below; Frank, born August 4, 1868, living with his father; Annie S., born February 26, 1871, married William Willever, living at I Davis street, Phillips- burg ; and Raymond, born May 24, 1874.
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