USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 38
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tion to the purity and simplicity of his home life. It is recorded that he stated in pri- vare conversation that he declined "because Mrs. Frelinghuysen was opposed to expos- ing her children to the influence of court life which the mission would involve." And he yielded to her wish. In 1871, however, there again occurred in the Senate a va- cancy to be filled from New Jersey for a full term, and the Legislature was Repub- lican. The public eye was at once direct- ed toward Mr. Frelinghuysen, and after a spirited struggle in caucus, he was elected by the Legislature for a term of six years. from 1871.
It was in the Senate that Mr. Freling- huysen added the choicest laurels to his fame. The Senate chamber was admirably adapted to his tastes and qualifications. Versed in the science of law and civil gov- ernment, possessed of oratorical graces, with keen and skillful dialectic power in debate, of fine presence and dignity of ac- tion, conscious of integrity, nerved with in- domitable courage blended with faultless Christian courtesy, with an inborn patriot- ism, and spurred on by ancestral prestige. he entered at once into the honors of the Senate and became a prominent and lead- ing member of that august body. He was there during the reconstruction period, when every phase of legislation required the profoundest statesmanship. but he was both ready and ripe, diligent, assiduous and watchful and alert to grapple every new and important question that arose. As a member of the judiciary committee, the fi- nance committee, the committee on naval affairs, the committee on claims, and on railroads, and as chairman of the commit- tee on agriculture, he was charged with a varied and often perplexing responsibility. During his career in the Senate he took part in the impeachment trial of President Johnson, and his judicial opinion, filed in the public record of that court, was brief, clear and convincing. He took a promi- nent part in the debate on the Washington
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Treaty, and also in the French Arms con- troversy, and he raised his voice emphat- ically against polygamy as engrafted upon the body politic of Utah. The measure to return to Japan the balance of the indem- nity fund not used for the payment of American claims, though just and honor- able, was not carried until after a pro- longed struggle, and the success of this measure was due to Senator Frelinghuy- sen's efforts. He introduced the bill to re- store a gold currency and he took charge of Mr. Sumner's bill for reconstruction, af- ter the Massachusetts statesman had be- come unable to look after it. It is impossi- ble to enter into details concerning even Senator Frelinghuysen's more notable speeches through which he made a brilli- ant record for himself and his State. He voted and spoke invariably against the in- undation of the flood of bills for relief which were founded upon claims of south- ern loyalists during the war and which, if carried to their logical consequences, would have swamped the national treasury. He spoke on the Supplementary Reconstruction Bill in 1868 with great eloquence and force and with a radicalism born of sagacious conversation. The situation was a critical one. The Constitutional amendments formed the background, and the State gov- ernments of the South must be reorgan- ized. The white population refused to rec- ognize at the same time the rights guaran- teed to the freedmen by the constitutional amendments. The alternative on the part of Congress was to confer on the freedmen full citizenship, the right to vote and to be voted for.
for a government which should be the same in every section. A change in the politi- cal party in control of the State retired Senator Frelinghuysen from the Senate at the expiration of his term, March 4, 1877; but he was not left long unemployed in the public service of his country. Upon the tragic death of President Garfield, Vice- President Arthur succeeded to the presi- dency under embarrassing circumstances. His own party, irritated and distracted, ex- tended to him meagre sympathy. Under these trying circumstances, he invited ex- Senator Frelinghuysen to take the first place in his cabinet, as Secretary of State. It would have been difficult for him to place at his right hand a secretary more quali- fied for that high position than Mr. Fre- linghuysen. The foreign policy of the ad- ministration was correspondingly pacific and honorable, conciliating but firm. In nego- tiating international treaties, taking in the scope of the subject matter, anticipating contingencies liable to arise in the far fu- ture, adjusting the conflicting interests of industries, revenues and commerce of na- tions, Secretary Frelinghuysen sustained the heaviest burden of his life. The two treaties which caused him most exhaustive labor in their general provisions were prob- ably the Spanish Treaty, which President Arthur submitted for ratification near the close of his term, and the great treaty in- volving the building of the Nicaragua Can- al. Both failed of ratification. The prep- aration and procurement of the latter inter- national document will ever remain a mon- ument to Secretary Frelinghuysen's skill. industry and statesmanship.
Senator Frelinghuysen, always cautious As in public life, so in private life, Sec- retary Frelinghuysen was a model man. At home he was the center of the affection of his family; in the church which was his supreme delight, he was a pillar ; on the platform of religious associations, at Sun- day-school and Bible-society anniversaries he was from early manhood a familiar, and conservative, upon this question be- came as radical as any Senator on the Re- publican side, and brilliantly and with rare logic and force covering in his arguments both the "sovereignty" of the nation and the constitutionality of the reconstruction laws, not only kept pace with the advance of public sentiment, but sagaciously stood popular and eloquent speaker. At the time
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of his death he was president of the Amer- ican Bible Society. The religious element in his character was positive and of a high type. A close student of the Bible, repos- ing in the orthodox faith of his fathers, he was yet free from cant and narrowness and preserved throughout his public as in his private career, the pre-eminent Christian character.
The broader fields of his activity did not preclude his interest in and sympthay with the lesser and more local institutions. Schools, public libraries, young men's asso- ciations, received his sympathy and assis- tance, and in higher education he was ever mindful of his alma mater, serving on her board of trustees for thirty-four years from 1851. He seldom addressed literary societies, a notable exception being an ora- tion before the literary societies of Prince- ton College in 1862. followed by the con- ferring upon him by that institution of the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws.
March 4, 1885, upon the inauguration of a new administration, Mr. Frelinghuysen surrendered his seat in the cabinet to his successor, Secretary Bayard, laden with honors, and taking with him the gratitude of his countrymen for his distinguished services. Apparently he had enjoyed uni- form good health, but the removal of his public official burdens revealed his bodily waste and weakness. He went from the cabinet to his home in Newark, and to his dying bed. He was too ill to receive the congratulations and welcome of his fellow citizens, who had thronged his home to greet his return. He fell into a comatose state, and in that condition the eminent statesman lay for several weeks, self-con- scious, but almost dead to the world. Day after day for many weeks, expressions of sympathy and anxiety were telegraphed from all parts of the country, and the met- ropolitan press announced, by hourly bulle- tins, the reports of his attending physician. The end came. He died on the 20th of May, 1885, sixty-eight years of age, leaving
a wife, three sons-Frederick, George G!is. wold, and Theodore; and three daughters Miss Tillie, Miss Lucy, and Mrs. John Davis.
Public expressions of sorrow and sym- pathy were numerous and eulogistic. The press all over the country gave unwonted space to obituary, historical and editorial notices of the sad event and of the eminent public citizen. The Historical Society, then in session at Newark, not only expressed in elaborate resolutions their appreciation of his public services and their admiration of his high character, but attended the fun- eral in a body. The Newark bar did like- wise. Secretary Bayard of the Department of State at Washington, the Governor of New Jersey and the Mayor of Newark all issued official proclamations announcing his death, and besides paying high tribute to his memory, personally attended his funer- al. Resolutions of sympathy and eulogy were adopted by the trustees of Rutgers College, by the church of which he was a member, by the American Bible Society, of which he was president, by other local Bible societies, and also by other numerous public bodies, religious, benevolent, political and financial, expressing their love and rev- erence for his life, character and services. The obsequies were held in the North Re- formed Church, in Newark, on the after- noon of the 23rd of May, 1885. The church was filled with the prominent men of the State, officials and private citizens, members and ex-members of the diplomatic corps, bringing tributes of sorrow and praise to his memory, a vast assemblage of the great and good, mourning his death with sincerest grief. He was buried in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery.
On the 9th of August, 1894, in the city of Newark, was unveiled the statue erected to the memory of Frederick T. Frelinghuy- sen by a union of private citizens and the muncipal government of the city of his home. The statue is a bronze, the work of the Hartford sculptor, Karl Gerhardt. It
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is colossal in size, standing nine feet high and represents the subject addressing an audience, an attitude so familiar to the people of the city. The pedestal is of gran- ite twelve feet high, on a broad extending base of the French style and was the gift of the city through the Common Council and the Board of Works, and is a rare specimen of the architectural skill of A. Wallace Brown, of Newark. Thus fittingly and enduringly does the distinguished cit- izen, the brilliant lawyer and the eminent Christian statesman live before the eye of the rising generations as well as in the hearts and memory of a grateful people.
YORKE, Thomas Jones,
Leader in Early Railroads.
Thomas Yorke, first American ancestor of the Salem county, New Jersey, family of that name, came from Yorkshire. Eng- land, when a young man, and about 1730 became a clerk for Thomas Potts Jr., at Colebrookedale Furance, in what is now Berks county, Pennsylvania. He was born in 1708, and came of an eminent family that had been long seated in the county of York, where, according to Burke, the Yorke family had for many generations maintained a leading position among the landed proprietors, Beverly Hall, near Ri- pon, being the family seat. Sir John Yorke, Knight, was Lord Mayor of London, and one of the trustees named in the will of Richard Whittington, of nurs- ery ballad fame. He was father of ten sons, two of whom, Edward and Edmund, became vice-admirals of the Royal Navy, and attained knighthood.
Thomas Yorke, Pennsylvania immigrant, was doubtless descended from one of the ten sons of Sir John Yorke, but his lineage has never been definitely traced. He was a man of abilty and education, and became prominent in the affairs of that section of Philadelphia county incorporated into Berks county in 1752. He was commis-
sioned a justice June 30, 1849, was one of the justices of the Court of Common Pleas after the organization of the county of Berks, and also represented that county in the Provincial Assembly in 1756-57. In December, 1747, the Provincial Assembly having adjourned without making any pro- vision for the protection of the province against the depredations of the Indians on the frontier or invasion from abroad, he was one of those "who had the love of their country sincerely at heart," described in the message of Anthony Palmer, presi- dent of the Assembly, in his message to the reconvened House, May 17, 1748, "who voluntarily entered into an association for defence; formed companies which pro- ceeded to choose officers, who, in turn. as- sembled and chose their superior officers, all being commissioned by the direction of the Provincial Council." Among the regi- ments formed under these proceedings was "The Associated Regiment of the County of Philadelphia," of which Edward Jones was chosen colonel, and Thomas Yorke lieuten- ant-colonel, and both duly commissioned. they having previously been selected cap- tains of companies in the manner above described. He was also interested in the Provincial navy, and in 1761 was author- ized by council to perform duties relative to the navy.
Thomas Yorke seems to have been a pro- gressive business man, and his name occurs as one of three underwriters on an early policy of insurance for £360, dated 1757, on the sloop "George," Captain (or Mas- ter) Burrows, issued for William Fisher & Company, through J. Saunders and Wil- liam Gibson. He died June 24. 1764, and was buried at Perkiomen, plot of Robeson family, where his tombstone bears this in- scription :
"IN MEMORY OF THOMAS YORKE, ESQR. Who departed this life June 23, 1764. Aged 56 yrs."
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Thomas Yorke married (first) in 1736, Martha Potts, born in 1718, died in 1741, daughter of Thomas Potts Jr., by his sec- ond wife, Magdalena Robeson. Thomas Yorke married (second) Margaret Robe- son, a cousin of his first wife and a descend- ant of Andrew Robeson Sr., surveyor-gen- eral of New Jersey, 1687, and one of the eleven commissioners of West Jersey in the same year. He later returned to Philadel- phia, where he was an extensive landown- er, member of the Provincial Council of Pennsylvania in 1693, and a provincial judge. Thomas Yorke married (third) Mary Robeson, a niece of his second wife. He had issue by all of his wives, the line of descent to Thomas Jones Yorke, of Salem, New Jersey, being through Andrew, eldest son of the second wife, Margaret Robeson Yorke.
Andrew Yorke was born in Philadelphia, November 26, 1742, and died in Salem, New Jersey, in 1794, buried in St. John's Episcopal Cemetery. He did not locate in Salem until 1773, engaging there in mer- cantile operations from that year until his death. His store and home were in the brick building at the corner of Yorke and Magnolia streets. He took an active part in the struggle for independence and served as aide to General Newcomb. He was one of the prominent men of his day, and the first of his family to settle in Salem. He married, in Manayunk, Philadelphia, Elean- or Coxe, of that city. Children: Andrew, died young; Martha, moved from Salem to Hancock's Bridge and there died; Lew- is, of further mention; Thomas, followed the sea as privateer during the War of 1812 and later as a merchantman, com- manding vessels in the coastwise trade.
Lewis, second son of Andrew and Eleanor (Coxe) Yorke, was born in Salem, New Jersey, died in Philadelphia, in 1809. He was educated and lived in Salem until after his marriage, then located at Hancock's Bridge, Salem county. where he engaged in mercantile business in partnership with
Louis Paullin. He married Mary, daughter of Thomas and Mary Jones, of Salem. Children: Andrew, died young; Thomas Jones, of further mention; Lewis S., mar- ried Adelaide Patton, of Philadelphia.
Judge Thomas Jones Yorke, second son of Lewis and Mary (Jones) Yorke, was born at Hancock's Bridge, Salem county, New Jersey, March 25, 1801, and was iden- tified with Salem county and the city of Salem until his death, April 4, 1882, at the age of eighty-one years. He was educated at Salem Academy, graduating from school into mercantile life, beginning his career as clerk in the store of his grandfather, Thom- as Jones, in Salem. From 1817 to 1821 he was associated with the establishment of James Patton, a shipping merchant of Phil- adelphia, as clerk in the counting room, re- turning to Salem in the latter year. There he entered into partnership with his uncle, Thomas Jones, and was successfully en- gaged in mercantile ventures until 1847, trading under the firm name of Jones & Yorke, their place of business being later known as "Star Hall." In 1847 he retired from trade, the pressure of public affairs and private business fully occupying his every moment. Far-sighted and public-spir- ited, he saw the benefits that would accrue to Salem county and West Jersey through the building of railroads, and for many years, in the face of fierce and often unkind local criticism and opposition, persevered in almost unceasing effort to bring Salem with- in the network projected and built by the United Railroad and Canal Companies of the State. The result for which he labored was accomplished when the West Jersey railroad reached Salem. He was mainly re- sponsible for the stock subscriptions secured to build that branch, in gaining right of way, and in breaking down the opposition that would have prevented its building. The first office of the company was built on his home lot, and in it was placed the first safe owned by the company. This office yet stands in Salem, on the estate of his daugh-
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ter, and was used by his son, Thomas Jones Yorke Jr., until the latter's death. Judge Yorke was identified with all the early rail- road enterprises of South Jersey in high official position, and was connected with Commodore Stockton in the erection of the famous "Stockton Hotel" at Cape May, af- ter the railroad had been built to that noted New Jersey coast resort. He saw far into the future, and lived until his fondest dreams of prosperity for his native Salem and that entire section were more than realized, the numerous towns between Camden and Cape May and on the many branches all having sprung into existence or having been greatly benefitted through the wise judgment, pub- lic spirit, and indomitable courage of a few men, chief among them Thomas Jones Yorke, of Salem, the father of railroad en- terprises in South and West Jersey. More- over, he lived to see the facts refute the abuse and slander unsparingly heaped upon him by the enemies of progress, and to have his calumniators publicly acknowledge their error and acclaim him a public benefac- tor.
His railroad activity began in 1853 with his election to the board of directors of the West Jersey Railroad Company, and his after choice as secretary and treasurer of that corporation. These offices he held until 1866, when he was chosen president, the second man to hold that office. He remained in the presidency until 1875, then resigned, but continued to serve as director. He was also president of the Cape May & Millville Railroad and of the West Jersey Express Company, maintaining a policy of progres- sive liberality in the management of all. He was a director of the West Jersey Mail and Transportation Company, the Salem Rail- road Company, and the Camden and Phil- adelphia Ferry Company, these companies now all being grouped and part of the Penn- sylvania Railroad system. All these valu- able properties were organized and fostered under his able guidance, yet so modest was he and so little thrown out of balance by
his successes that when the first train came to Salem he did not leave his home to par- ticipate in the public rejoicing.
As a builder and advance agent of pros- perity, Judge Yorke's memory is gratefully and lovingly cherished, but that is only one reason for his popularity and but one item in his long and useful life. He early en- gaged in active political life, held many lo- cal offices, and became a leader in town and county, in 1835 representing Salem county in the State Legislature. This brought him prominently- before the State leaders, and ere long he was one of the men who guided the fortunes of the Whig party in New Jersey. In 1837 he was elected to Con- gress, serving by reelections until 1843. He was one of the congressmen who voted for the appropriation to build the first tele- graph line from Washington to Baltimore, the invention of Professor Morse particu- larly appealing to his progressive nature. For twelve years he was one of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas of Salem county, filling that office with dignity and faithfulness. He was a strong Union man and in all things aided with purse and in- fluence to advance the common good.
Judge Yorke, though weighted down with public and private responsibilities, did not "live for himself alone." Generous and kindly hearted, he delighted to be of ser- vice to others, and many were the men whom he quietly aided in obtaining their start in life, by purse and counsel. He was most social and friendly by nature, but his naturally dignified and reserved nature often created the wrong impression among those little acquainted with him, that he was cold and unapproachable.
Judge Yorke married (first) Mary A., daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Smith, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, who bore him a son, Louis Eugene Yorke, a captain in the United States Regular Army, who died in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1873. He mar- ried (second) Margaret Johnson Sinnick- son, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth ( Ja-
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cobs) Sinnickson, of Salem county. (See Sinnickson family in this work). Children : Mary A., now living in Salem, widow of DeWitt Clinton Clement (q.v.) ; Elizabeth S., now residing in Salem at the old home; Thomas Jones (2) (q.v.) ; Margaret J., married Dr. J. B. Parker, a surgeon of the United States Navy; Caroline P., married William F. Allen, editor of the "Travelers' Official Guide," and president of the Of- ficial Guide Publishing Company The daughters of Judge Yorke are all living, his only son, Thomas J. Yorke (2), sur- vived his father until December 3, 1913.
YORKE, Thomas Jones, Man of Affairs.
Associated with his honored father in his railroad enterprise in his younger years, and with his uncles, John and Charles Sinnickson, of Philadelphia, as a member of the coal firm of Sinnickson & Company, Thomas J. Yorke Jr., on his return to Sa- lem, at once took his rightful place arnong the men of affairs in this city. Heredity and experience combined to develop an un- usual executive ability, while his social gifts and charming personality rendered him one of the most delightful of entertainers. He was a man of wide reading, extensive trav- el, and withal had so genuine an interest in life that he was one of the most popular of Salem men long after years had whitened his locks. His was a true friendliness that sprang from a warm heart and one that al- ways responded to every demand. He was of the best type of American manhood, keen and efficient in business, but alive with human interest and by nature a nobleman.
Thomas Jones Yorke, only son of Judge Thomas Jones Yorke and his second wife, Margaret Johnson Sinnickson, was born in Salem, New Jersey, June 10. 1843, died there December 3, 1913. He was educated in Salem schools and at Edge Hill School, near Princeton, and in early manhood was his father's valued assistant.
business life as a partner in the firm, Sin- nickson & Company, coal shippers, and for over twenty years he continued in busi- ness in Philadelphia, then retired from the firm and returned to Salem. From that time until his death at the age of seventy years he was prominently identified with the business interests of Salem and vicin- ity. He was president of the West Jersey Mari and Transportation Company, of Woodbury, a corporation he developed to a high point of prosperity, was connected with the Saleni Gas Light Company for many years as a director, and from 1906 until his death was its efficient president.
Public political life was distasteful to him, and although frequently offered ap- pointive and elective positions refused all except one, when he allowed himself to be elected a member of the city council. He was a Democrat in political faith until a few years prior to his death, then became an Independent, supporting his private choice for office regardless of politics. He resem- bied his father in many of his characteris- tics, and, as in his honored sire, modesty and quiet dignity hid a warm heart and friendly nature from those with whom he was not well acquainted. He was a mem- ber of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, and ever generous in the support of that parish.
He was greatly appreciated socially and as one of the organizers, member of the board of directors, and president, was deep- ly endeared to his fellow members of the Salem Club. It was with genuine regret that his resignation as president of the club was accepted, ill health compelling his retire- ment a year prior to his death. He was also a member of the Fenwick Club and served a term as president of that organi- zation.
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