USA > New Jersey > Hudson County > Hudson County to-day; its history, people, trades, commerce, institutions and industries > Part 5
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Mr. Sheridan obtained his degree and passed his examinations after long, arduous and conscientious study. This characteristic marks the handling of the affairs of his clients. He studies the affairs of his clients and knows them to such a nicety that he really puts himself in the place of his clients when looking after their interests.
lle has not a long string of legal triumphs to add to his fame-nor does he want it. Neither does he need it. He is of the type of man who inspires confidence. and it is but a just tribute to him to say that such confidence is not misplaced. His makeup is such that he could not willingly under any circumstances neglect the business affairs entrusted to him.
Mr. Sheridan is not a man who is looking for plaudits or for preferment. lle would rather have it said of him that he looked well after the interests of those with whom he has dealings as a legal adviser than that he was a brilliant advocate. Ile has no patience with the man who is made up of superficiality. He is by no means a crank, but he is an able exponent of the law and as such is highly respected by the bench, the bar and the public generally with whom he comes in contact.
Nathan G. Pendergast
A MONG the able younger lawyers of Hudson County is Nathan II. Pen- dergast, who has offices in the Spingarn Building, 665 Newark Avenue. Five Corners, Jersey City.
Ile was born in Jersey City in the year 1876 and received his early edu- cation in the public schools and High School of that city. He also attended Centenary Collegiate Institute, at Hackettstown, New Jersey, and after leav- ing there, studied medicine at Bellevue Hospital Medical College, New York, but gave this up for the law, feeling that in this he had his chosen profession. He was admitted to the Bar of New Jersey as an Attorney-at-Law in the year 1902 and as a Counselor-at-Law in the year 1910; he is also a Master in Chancery of New Jersey and Special Master in Chancery of New Jersey. and also counsel to the Hudson County Board of Health and Vital Statistics. Since his admission he has practiced law in Jersey City, and has made rapid trides in his profession and today enjoys a large clientele.
AAlthough his practice is general and matters of every nature are handled by him, there is probably no lawyer in the county who is more conscientious about the merits of the case he undertakes than is Mr. Pendergast. He has a slight preference for the criminal law practice. He is well read and dignified in his profession, is self-confident and reliant and is possessed of a nature which draws men to him ; and his clients have learned to have confidence in him. and he has earned for himself a reputation of being truly an adviser. lle believes that his own interests will not suffer by giving the best that is in him to the interests of his clients. He has won his legal spurs purely because of his legal ability ; he has asked no favors of anyone and has ad- vanced himself by his own personal efforts.
These qualities are fast pushing Mr. Pendergast to the front in his pro- fession, and he is already a favorite with the bench and bar.
Fraternally, Mr. Pendergast is well known. He is a member of several lodges and clubs, including the Masonic order, being a member of Eagle Lodge of Masons, one of the most conservative lodges of the Masonie order in the entire county.
During his many years of court house association, before and after his admission to the bar, he has made many acquaintances and numbers amongst his friends some of the foremost and influential men of the city and county, and is equally well known in other parts of the State.
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Samuel Austin Besson
S AMUEL AUSTIN BESSON, of Ilo- boken. respected as a lawyer in crim- inal, civil state and federal courts. and whose conduct of cases has blazed the way for the construction of law in many important matters, was born on April 6. 1853, at Everittstown, Hunterdon County. N. J. His parents were William Besson and Margaret A. Besson. He is a lineal descendent of Francis Besson, a French Hugenot, who settled in this country prior to 1730. His great grandfather. John Besson, was an ensign in Washington's army. He was educated in the public schools at Everittstown, at the Carvers- ville Normal School in Bucks County, Pa ... and Lafayette College. Easton, Pa., from which he was graduated in 1876 with the degree of A. B.
He was principal of the Franklin High School. Franklin, Pa., for one year, and afterward principal of the Phillipsburg High School in New Jersey. In 1875 he began the study of law and was admitted to the New Jersey Bar in June. 1879, as an attorney, and in June, 1882, as a counselor. He has been corpora- tion counsel for his city under a Republican administration, among the most im- portant cases being those regarding water front titles, in whom many dis. tinguished corporation lawyers appeared. Ile is one of the managers of the Hoboken Bank for Savings, one of the originators and first trustees of the Columbia Club, a member of Euclid Lodge of Masons and a past grand of Columbia Lodge of Odd Fellows. He was in 1889 president of the Hudson County Bar Association and is a ruling elder of the First Presbyterian Church, and a United States Commissioner.
His home is modest. his tastes are for literature and law and he is broad- minded. He is greatly liked by a large circle of loyal friends.
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Richard Struens
( WORK of this kind would be com- plete without a mention of the Stevens family. Richard Stevens is chief probation officer of the county, ap- pointed by Judge Blair in 1904. prominent in all progressive movements, a philan- thropist, and worthy scion of Hoboken's oldest and most select society.
Richard Stevens is the son of Edwin A. and Martha B. Stevens. Ile was born May 23. 1868, in Paris, France. Like his for- bears he makes his Hoboken home at Castle Point. He has a summer home at Bernardsville, N. J.
Mr. Stevens was educated in the Stevens Preparatory School, St. Paul's School. a boarding school at Concord, N. H. : Colum- bia College School of Arts, class of 1800, New York Law School, from which he was graduated in 1803. in which year he passed his examination as attorney and was admitted to the New Jersey bar.
He is first vice-president of the lloboken Land and Improvement Com- pany, director of the First National Bank of Hoboken, and a member of the German Club and Columbia Club of Hoboken, and the Union Club, Racquet and Tennis Club, New York Athletic Club and University Club of New York. Ile is fond of out door sports, at which he excels. In tennis he held the championship of New Jersey for three years and the middle Atlantic champion- ship for two years. He played on the Somerset polo team for four years. He was champion wrestler of the New York Athletic Club for one year and held second place for one year. Ile rode in the cross country hunts of the Essex Fox Hounds. Swimming and boating are among his athletic attainments.
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Grurar J. ArEman
EORGE J. MCEWAN, a leading and public spirited man of West Hobo- ken, has an enviable record of suc- cess. Ile was born in Rockland County, N. Y., January 16, 1862, his parents being Thomas McEwan and Hannah Ledgett McEwan.
After attending country school at Man- chester ( now Lakehurst ), N. J., one year, the family moved to Jersey City, where he went successively to School No. 10 on Paterson Street, School No. 7 on Central Avenue and the Jersey City High School, from which he graduated in 1897.
He entered a hardware store in New York, where he remained until 1884. He had an ambition to become a lawyer and entered the law school of New York Uni- versity in the Fall of 1884, after studying with his brother, Hon. Thomas McEwan, and Philo Chase, Esq. In May, 1885, he was graduated with the degree of LL. B. He was admitted to the New York bar in January, 1886, and practiced in New York until admitted to the New Jersey har in June, 1887. He practiced in Jersey City from June, 1887. to January, 1907, when he removed to his present offices in the Highland Trust building, West Hoboken. He became a counselor at law in New Jersey in June, 1890.
Hle is vice-president, director and counsel for the Highland Trust Co .. and president and counsel for the Courtland Building and Loan Association, recently organized. He is an active member of the Town Improvement Asso- ciation of West Hoboken and was town attorney in 1911, 1013 and 1914. He is trustee and chairman of the executive committee of the Citizens' Federation of Hudson County. He was councilman from the Second Ward of West Ho- boken in 1894 and 1895. Ilis house is at 421 High Street, that town.
He is a member of the Columbia Club of Hoboken; Euclid Lodge, F. and A. M., Hoboken ; the Scottish Rite bodies of New York ; Pilgrim Commandery. K. T., Hoboken: Salaam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., Newark: Zemzeni Grotto, M. O. V. P. E. R., Jersey City ; West Hoboken Council, Royal Arcanum ; Unique Lodge. A. O. U. W., Jersey City, and the National Municipal League.
He is an elder of the First Presbyterian Church of West Hoboken and was a commissioner at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of North America, held at Atlantic City, May, 1912.
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John William Rufus Besson
J OHN William Rufus Besson, presiding judge in the Hoboken District Court, was born in Hoboken January 6, 1871. His parents were John Case Besson and Hasseltine J. Besson (nee Nice). He has lived in Hoboken all his life, and is a brilliant exception to the rule based upon the familiar Scriptural quotation that "a prophet is not without honor save in his own country.'
From his youth Judge Besson was studious. As a result, his rise in the legal and judicial world has been marked and well deserved. He attended Miss Hall's Primary School, the Hoboken Academy, Stevens High School and the Princeton Preparatory School prior to entering Princeton University. from which he was graduated in 1892 with the degree of B. A. In 1894 he graduated from the New York Law School with the degree of LL. B. In June, 1895, Princeton conferred upon him the degree of M. 1.
In 1895 Mr. Besson was admitted to the bar of New Jersey as an attorney and in 1898 as a counsellor. He is both a Supreme Court Commissioner and a Special Master in Chancery. When he began practice he became a member of the firm of Lewis, Besson & Stevens, afterwards Besson. Alex- ander & Stevens. His ability as a lawyer was speedily recognized, and to-day, besides occupying the District Court bench, he is counsel for the Trust Company of New Jersey. He is also a director in the Hudson Trust Company.
Judge Besson served as Assemblyman from Hudson County in 1903 and 1904. This is the only political office he has ever held. Besides the Legislative manuals for those years, he is prominently mentioned in a volume entitled "Courts and Lawyers of New Jersey." He lives at 800 Hudson street, Hoboken, and all his life has taken an active interest in the affairs of Hoboken and its people.
He is a member of the German Club of Hoboken, the Princeton Club of New York, the University Club of New York, the University Cottage Club of Princeton, the Nassau Club of Princeton, the Sons of the Revolution of New Jersey, the Washington Headquarters Society of Morristown, N. J .. and ex-president of the Hudson County Bar Association and the Hoboken Board of Trade. His hobbies are tennis and golf.
heury A. Garde
ENRY A GAEDE, of Hoboken, senior member of the law firm of Gaede & Gaede, one of the highly respected and older members of the Hudson county bar, was born in Hudson City, now Jersey City Heights, September 10. 1857.
He attended the schools in that vicinity and was graduated from old public school No. 2 in 1872. He then studied civil engineering with Otto F. Wagener. then city surveyor of lloboken, and remained with him until Oc- tober, 1874. when he entered the office of the late John C. Besson. Since October, 1878, he has been engaged in the practice of his profession, making a specialty of real estate and banking law.
He is counsel for a number of large corporations, including the First National Bank of Hoboken, and the Jefferson Trust Company. He was at- torney for Hudson county in the condemnation proceedings for the County Boulevard. Mr. Gaede is a member of the Board of Visitors to the State Agricultural College and has experimented in horticulture a number of years, that being his hobby, having his country estate at Marlboro-on-the-Hudson, N. Y.
Enwir Walter Drake
F UGENE Walter Leake was born in Jersey City. N. J., July 17, 1877, and in his home city he has attained a reputation as a lawyer who maintains the standard of the old school of practitioners much more closely than many of the younger members of the bar. He is the son of Thomas W. Leake and Caroline Veyrassat, a grandson of Charles Leake and Eugene Veyrassat. a great-grandson of George Leake and Samuel Veyrassat, and a great-great-grandson of David Leake and Samuel Veyrassat, Sr.
Mr. Leake received his early education in Public Schools Nos. 3 and 12. Jersey City. Afterwards he attended Phillips-Andover Academy in Massa- chusetts. In 1896 he received the degree of LL. B. from the Regents of the University of the State of New York. In 1897 he received his diploma from the New York Law School, at the same time winning the first prize in the post-graduate class for excellence in both examination and essay.
After graduating from the law school, Mr. Leake continued his studies with James B. Vredenburgh and Blair & Crouse in Jersey City. and was (Imitted to the New Jersey bar in 1898. Since then he has been actively and successfully engaged in the practice of his profession.
In 1900 he became associated with Charles Hartshorne and Earle Insley as the junior partner of the law firm of Hartshorne, Insley & Leake. with offices in the Provident Bank Building in Jersey City. This partnership has continued uninterruptedly ever since, the firm being recognized as one of the most foremost in the practice of law in New Jersey.
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Clement De R. Eronard
LEMENT De R. LEONARD, of 110- boken, attorney and counsellor at law. is a son of Francis De R. Leonard, a grandson of John Leonard, and great grandson of Joseph Leonard, who was high sheriff of the then colony of New Jersey in 1771 and who died in 1779. Ilis paternal ancestors were French Hugenots. They came to this country about the time of the Hugenot wars and figured prom- inently in civic and military affairs. His father was a respected citizen of Red Bank and his grandfather was appointed by Thomas Jefferson as minister to the court of Spain, which position he held with honor for thirty years. His mother was a member of the distinguished Lippincott family of Monmouth County.
Mr. Leonard was born at Red Bank, February 18, 1846. He received his early education at St. Charles College, near Ellicott City. Md. He was graduated from Seton Hall College in 1869. atter which he read law in Red Bank, where he became assistant to Robert Allen. Jr .. prosecutor of the pleas. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1873 as an attorney and in 1876 as a counselor. In 1877 he came to Hoboken, where he has since practiced his profession.
Mr. Leonard has been prominent in Republican affairs in the state, hav- ing been delegate to the State Convention on several occasions, delegate to congressional and county conventions and chairman of the Hoboken City Re- publican Committee. He has also been president of his Assembly District Com- mittee and chairman of the First Ward Association of Hoboken. Ile served in the Assembly in 1807. He declined elevation as a district judge in 1808. His practice is large and he enjoys the confidence of the whole community.
lle was retained in most important litigation by the Taxpayers' Asso- ciation of the City of Hoboken, to apply to the Supreme Court of the State for an order to summarily investigate the municipal expenditures of the city. On the 16th day of September, 1905, Mr. Leonard accordingly, as provided by the statute, presented to Justice Jonathan Dixon a petition signed by thirty-eight freeholders and taxpayers abiding in the City of Hoboken, al- leging that they had cause to believe that the moneys of said city were being and had been unlawfully and corruptly expended, citing numerous instances of fraud and corruption in the disbursement of said moneys. An order was thereupon granted as prayed for, resulting in an adjustment of the subject matter satisfactorily to all parties therein concerned and without recourse to further legal proceedings.
Another instance of absorbing interest to the citizens of Hoboken was the legal proceedings instituted by Mr. Leonard in conjunction with the Attorney General of New Jersey, in the nature of quo warranto, attacking the appointment of eleven police officers, made on the 18th day of January, 1904, at an adjourned stated meeting of the board of police commissioners of the City of Hoboken. It was claimed that the police force, as then existing. exclusive of superior officers, contained all the law then allowed, under Hoboken's Special Charter and the several amendments thereto, and there was no vacancy in the membership of the said police force to which the said eleven officers could legally be appointed ; that the said amendments to the
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said charter under said charter under which said officers claimed to hold their office as patrolmen were unconstitutional and void and in contravention of article four, section seven, paragraphs nine and eleven of the Constitution of the State of New Jersey. The said mentioned acts were claimed to be special and applying only to those cities where the police force is governed by a mayor and a board of commissioners appointed by him.
The defendants in these proceedings retained Messrs. Bedle. Edwards & Thompson of Jersey City, who bitterly fought the case in their behalf. demurring to same on technical grounds. On February 23. 1904, the informa- tion was signed by the Attorney General, and writ of quo warranto issued on March 15. 1904. Defendants filed demurrer in case on June 16th, 1904. An amended information was filed May 6th, 1905. and served on defendants May 14. 1905. Mr. Leonard was retained by the republican leader of Hudson County in said proceedings, and when the case was ready for trial was ordered by his client to discontinue the same on payment of his fees and costs.
Mr. Leonard was also retained by the Election Officers of the City of Hoboken. in 1903. to bring a test case in their behalf in the name of one of their number. David M. Hubbell, for the recovery of their salaries, in that year held up by the city on the questions of whether the law required the City or County to pay same, and also to determine whether their individual salaries for each election, were to be each $25.00 or $30.00. Suit was brought therefor on April 14th. 1903, and resulted in a judgment in favor of Mr. Leonard's clients and the recovery of their claims in full.
On the 15th day of March. A. D. 1910, Mr. Leonard was also admitted as Attorney and Counselor-at-Law in the Supreme Court of New York, and on June 28th, 1910, was duly admitted to both the U. S. District and Circuit Courts in said State. He ran with Lawrence Fagan and A. M. Bruggemann for mayor, and after being defeated was named as assessor by Mayor Fagan. Ile held this position for five years.
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Aron Abbett
EON ABBETT, with law offices at 51 Newark street, Hoboken, and who resides in Jersey City, is a son of the late Governor Leon Abbett, and as a result of that relationship, together with his own legal acumen. he has acquired a large clientele among the first people of the State. He has been practicing law for a number of years past, and from the first has had a clientele which has made him independent.
Mr. Abbett's clientele has been of such a nature that he has not had to indulge in any questionable legal practices. He is careful, and inquires minutely into the details of the case any client brings to him. If he thinks the case is a just one and can be won on its merits he frankly tells his client so. If he thinks the case is a poor one, that his client would have no standing in the courts, or that the case could be won only by questionable methods, he is very quick to refuse to have anything to do with it. He has a profound respect for the intent of the law, and hesitates to take any questionable case on a mere technicality.
Mr. Abbett really belongs to the old school of lawyers who would sooner see things settled amicably and not taken to court if such a settlement can be effected. To this end he has smoothed over the difficulties of many clients, and has come to be looked upon as a mediator rather than a lawyer. This appellation is more pleasing to him. When, however, he has to take a case to court, he fights to the end for his client, and has a splendid record of victories to his credit.
Although his father was one of the most honored men in politics in the State of New Jersey and attained the high office of Governor through the suffrage of the people, the younger Abbett's tendencies have been to avoid politics as much as possible and to attend strictly to his legal business. He is quiet and unassuming, and readily finds friends among refined people.
14. H. Bradley
H. BRADLEY, lawyer, with offices at 84 Washington street, Iloboken, is numbered among the most progressive of the lawyers of the mile-
square city. He has been in practice long enough to establish a clientele of more than generous proportions, and has the confidence and esteem of a large number of friends as well as clients.
Mr. Bradley has been interested in a good deal of important private litiga- tion, and so careful is he in the preparation of his cases that it is said of him that his clients generally win. His percentage of cases won is considerably above the average, and this, of course, is due to a thorough knowledge of the law, a close study into the merits of the case on hand, and the fact that Mr. Bradley is honest in advising clients when they have no case or little chance to win.
Among his clients Mr. Bradley numbers many prominent people. A good deal of his practice is what is known as office cases. Ile has a certain skill in deciding complicated cases that has drawn to him clients who have remained with him permanently. He is never pedagogic, but gives his clients the impression of being a friend as well as legal adviser. As a matter of fact. he enters into the cases of his clients in a whole-hearted manner which really makes him the friend, as well as legal adviser.
Because of his upright practice Mr. Bradley has gained a high place in the esteem of the various branches of the bar before which he practices. Hle is not a spectacular lawyer. He depends, rather, upon knowledge of the law and its correct interpretation than upon high flown oratory. He presents his cases clearly and concisely, and brings out the salient points in a manner that has won the admiration not only of the bench, but of his fellow lawyers as well.
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Edward Stouer
DWARD STOVER, lawyer, was born in Hoboken, on April 13. 1882. He is the son of Emma R. and John D. Stover. Mr. Stover is known for activities in behalf of social and civic betterment. He was the leader in the movement that brought about the equipment of the Fluid- son County playgrounds in Iloboken.
Mr. Stover attended Mensing's Kinder- garten School and later the Hoboken Aca- demy from which he entered New York University at the age of 10. Here his studies were interrupted by poor health. When this had been recovered he studied typewriting and stenography in Fagan's Business College and entered the law office of Samuel A. Besson. He graduated from New York Law School in 1904, reveived. the degree of bachellor of laws in igos. lle became an attorney and in 1910 a coun- selor at law. Immediately on becoming an attorney he started in the practice of law for himself. His offices are in the Savings Bank Building at Newark and Washington Streets. Hoboken.
While Mr. Stover was a law clerk he together with Walter Coppinger and Attorney John D. Pierson began to agitate for a play ground park for his crowded city, which finally culminated in the Hudson County Park Commis- sion adopting plans for converting the Hoboken Cricket Grounds and adjoining property into a play ground. Before the commission started its work of im- provement a ball team managed by the late Robert Davis, then called the Democratic Boss of Hudson County, started to play in the Cricket Grounds und charged an entrance fee. Stover and his associates got an injunction pro- hibiting the games from the Court of Chancery, but before doing so presented themselves at the gates of the Cricket Grounds one Sunday afternoon and de- manded admittance free of charge. They were backed up by a crowd of citi- zens who tore down the fence when their demands were refused.
Mirury J. Garde
ENRY J. GAEDE, associated with his father. llenry A. Gaede, in the law firm of Gaede & Gaede, Hobo- ken, was born in Jersey City Heights June 25. 1884. He received the degree of LL. B. from the New York University Law School in 1904, after which he took a special law course at Cornell University. lle was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1905 and to the New York bar in 1911. Hle is probably the youngest man ever admitted to the bar in this State, being sworn in just one day after becoming twenty-one years of age. He is actively engaged in the practice of law in New York City, having offices at 55 Liberty Street, as well as with his father at 91 Washington Street, Hoboken.
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