USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I > Part 42
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RIGHTER, George Edgar,
Ironmaster, Progressive Citizen.
Classed with the representative business men of Morris county, New Jersey, was the late George Edgar Righter, a descendant of an old and honored family of that sec- tion of the country. His father, John Righter, who was of German descent, was born in the State of New Jersey, and during the business years of his life was a farmer, iron manufacturer and store keeper, having one store at Parsippany, Morris county, and the other at Powerville, New Jersey. He married Lockey Stiles, whose ancestry was English, and numbered many distinguished members. The grandfather of Mr. Righter served in the Revolutionary War.
George Edgar Righter was born at Par- sippany, Morris county, New Jersey, Jan- uary 10, 1829, and died at his home in Morristown, New Jersey. April 24, 1913. His education was a liberal one, and was acquired at the Parsippany public school,
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Metcalf's private school in the sarne town, and at Mount Retirement Seminary, in Sus- sex county, New Jersey, which was known as the "Wantage Select" at the time he re- ceived his diploma from it. He became a farmer. and then conducted a general store in Parsippany, where he also became a deal- er in real estate and lumber. His was one of the forges on the Rockaway creck. later called the "Aetna," purchased in 1839, and there he inanufactured iron, but when the United States decided to establish the pow- der depots in Morris county, the site se- lected was largely on ground owned by Mr. Righter. and in 1880 he sold about twelve hundred acres of land to the government for almost $36,000. He was a volunteer in the Civil War, but was unable to serve On account of being unable to obey the or- der "Tear cartridge," with his teeth. He was actively interested in educational affairs, serving as trustee of Parsippany school. and as district clerk he erected the present frame school house at Parsippany. He was the founder of the school near Dolan's Cor- ner, just beyond Mt. Hope. his brother Samuel donating the land ; also organized a school with pupils from Mt. Hope. Den- mark and Middle Forge: was trustee of Mt. Hope district school No. 3. and on February 13. 1855, fixed the boundaries of said school district in the township of Rock- away, and on April 13. 1863, established the boundaries of Parsippany school district No. 1. He was active and efficient in all good works.
Mr. Righter was dismissed from the Sec- ond Presbyterian Church of Hanover. April 7, 1859, and re-admitted, August 19. 1870. During this time, a period of more than eleven years, he was a prominent officer of the First Presbyterian Church of Parsip- pany, and gave special attention to the work of the Sunday school connected therewith. He served in the capacity of elder in the Presbyterian church for more than forty years. He was a frequent representative of session in the presbytery, and a frequent
representative of presbytery in the New Jersey Synod. He served as secretary of the Morris County Sunday School Asso. ciation from 1874 to 1885. also served as it- president, and in connection with this work was active in the organization of Sunday schools wherever it was possible to place one, driving front place to place throughout the county, collecting children. and finding suitable places for the sessions to be held. One of these was in the Old Brick school house, he serving as superintendent. He was a faithful teacher in the Sunday school for many years, never missing a session when it was possible to be present, and con- tinued this good work until he was more than eighty years old; he was also a regu- lar attendant at the prayer meetings, teach- ing by example as well as by precept. About the year 1850 he organized a band of young men known as "The Sons of Temperance." The object of this association was to better conditions in the community in which they lived by the suppression of vice. especially the vice of intemperance. By the earnest efforts of this group of workers both sa- loons in the village were closed, and there has not been one there since that time, a most worthy achievement.
Mr. Righter married (first) at Halsey- town. New Jersey. January 8, 1862, Mary Augusta, daughter of Alexander and Mary ( Harrison) Mulford. He married ( sec- ond) January 26, 1882, at Roseville, New Jersey, Hester M., daughter of Robert J. and Anna (Dow) Baldwin. Children by first marriage: Irving. born July 14. 1863. married Lizzie C. Towell, of Parsippany : Clarence, born February 16, 1866: Mary R., born April 10. 1869, married Andrew L. Cobb: George Chester and Arthur Har- rison. twins, born July 12, 1871. Children by second marriage: Augusta, born August 6. 1883, married Robert O. Smith, of Rich- mond, Virginia : Chester Newell, born No- vember 11, 1884. married Ann Dewar, of Jersey City : Edwards, born July 12. 1886: Alliene Shugard. born April 17, 1888.
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The life record of Mr. Righter was one of which his family may justly feel proud. His dealings were ever straightforward and honorable, and his treatment of those in his employ was always consistently fair, thus winning their confidence and esteem. Energy, enterprise and careful management formed the keynote of his success, and dem- onstrated the possibilities which America furnished to young men of determined pur- pose and sterling worth.
HAYES, David Abbott,
Lawyer, Legislator, Enterprising Citizen.
David Abbott Hayes was a man whose long and useful life was consecrated to all that was true and good in the community in which he resided, who took possession of the public heart by kindness and the force of personal character, and his name will be held in lasting honor in the section where he lived and labored for so many years, achieving a large degree of prosper- ity through his own efforts, aided by his irreproachable character.
Mr. Hayes was born in Newark, New Jersey, May 29, 1810, died November II, 1875. He was a son of David and Mary (Abbott) Hayes, and a lineal descendant of Robert Hayes, who removed from Milford, Connecticut, to Newark, New Jersey, about the year 1692, aiding to the best of liis abil- ity in the development and improvement of that city, which has been the home of his descendants from that day to the present time (1914).
Mr. Hayes obtained his preparatory edu- cation in the school conducted by the Rev. Mr. Fairchild, at Succasunna, New Jersey, afterward entering Amherst College, from which institution he was graduated in 1830. In the following year he was a student in the law office of the late Governor William Pennington, under whose competent instruc- tion he remained until September, 1834, when he was admitted to the bar in the class with Walter Rutherford, Abraham
Browning and Staats S. Morris, all of whom achieved success in their chosen vo- cations. Mr. Hayes was admitted a counsel- lor of the Supreme Court in 1836, and at the time of his death stood seventeenth on the list of surviving counsellors admitted at or previous to that time. He at once en- gaged in the active practice of his profes- sion in the city of Newark and so continued until the time of his decease, first in part- nership with Jolin Chetwood, later alone. He brought all the zeal of his nature and learning to the cause of his clients, and de- rived his greatest pleasure in mastering and unraveling the most intricate problems of the law. Although an earnest and a fluent speaker he did not seek distinction in the forum, although very successful there, pre- ferring those branches of his profession which employed him quietly in his office and at his desk. He possessed the confi- dence of all who came to him for counsel and advice in matters pertaining to the law, the skill with which he handled their cases earning for him well deserved repute, his practice developing into an extensive and important one.
A Republican in political principles, he took an active part in the work of his party and acquired recognition as one of the local leaders, wielding an extensive influence. In 1859-60 he was one of the representatives of Essex county in the General Assembly, discharging his duties with efficiency. He was public-spirited, always taking a fore- most part in all that tended to improve the moral condition of his native city. In the early movement which resulted in the open- ing of Mount Pleasant Cemetery he was very prominent, and in the bill passed by the Legislature in 1844 for the establish- ment of that now beautiful burial ground his name is among the corporators, he later serving as a director. Ten years later he was a prominent factor in obtaining author- ity from the Legislature to establishı Fair- mount Cemetery, and also served on the board of directors. He served as a direc-
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tor in the Newark Plank-Road Company, the Orange and Newark Horse-Car Com- pany, of which he was for several years the secretary, the Firemen's Insurance Com- pany, and the Newark Rosendale Cement Company. He was one of the original mem- bers of the New Jersey Historical Society, which he served in the capacity of record- ing secretary for more than a quarter of a century, until his death, and in which he took an active and efficient interest, being regular in his attendance at the meetings, and solicitous to advance in every way the interests of the society.
Mr. Hayes married, in 1851, Caroline Davis Hays. Children: Alice Woodman- cie Hayes, Howard Wortley Hayes, Mary Abbott Hayes.
Mr. Hayes was broad and comprehensive in his views on all subjects submitted to him, tenacious in his opinion, decided and firm in his judgment of men and measures, yet nevertheless tolerant of the opinions of others, believing that it is the birthright of freemen to exercise unchallenged private judgment in all matters relating to human actions and human happiness. He was re- spected and beloved by all with whom he was brought in contact, was hospitable, char- itable, generous, with a ready sympathy for those in affliction or need. The following resolutions of respect were passed at a spe- cial meeting of the Essex County Bar, Judge Depue presiding :
Resolved, That in the death of David A. Hayes the community sustains a loss which they will long continue to feel and appreciate, bound up as he has been for so many years with the business interests of this state and city. A practitioner at the bar for forty years, always active and indus- trious, a sound judicious adviser, a faithful. per- severing and earnest advocate, a lawyer well edu- cated and informed, and integrity never im- pugned; a man of kindly heart, affable manner and hearty sympathy with human kind; ready in Church and State for every good word and work; he passes away without an enemy and followed sorrowfully to his grave by troops ot friends, who while they mourn, nevertheless rejoice in
the conviction that death opens to him the gate of everlasting life.
Resolved, That in testimony of our regret and attachment for our deceased brother we will at- tend his funeral in a body, and that we request the Circuit Court to record these resolutions on its minutes.
Judge Depue in an address said that his acquaintance with Mr. Hayes was one of long standing and that the favorable opinion early formed had not changed during their almost daily intercourse during after years. The court, he said, would cheerfully con- cur in the request of the committee, and or- dered the clerk to have the resolutions en- tered upon the minutes of the court. He then ordered that the court stand ad- journed until the following Saturday as a mark of respect to the memory of their dead brother.
HAYES, Howard Wortley,
Lawyer, Jurist, Art Connoisseur.
The history of a State as well as that of a nation is chiefly a chronicle of the lives and deeds of those who have conferred honor and dignity upon society, whether in the broad sphere of public labors or the more circumscribed, but not less worthy and valuable one of individual activity through which the general good is ever pro- moted. Howard Wortley Hayes, whose prominent position in social and legal af- fairs demands for him distinctive recogni- tion in the history of New Jersey. was a prominent factor in the development of Newark, notably along educational and ar- tistic lines. His honored ancestry, dis- tinguished for their piety and patriotism. can be traced in a direct line to Thomas Hayes, who settled in Newark in the year 1689.
Howard Wortley Hayes was born in Newark, May 9, 1858, and died February 26, 1903, son of David A. and Caroline Davis (Hays) Hayes. His early and pre- paratory education was obtained in Newark
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Academy and Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, after which he entered Yale University, whence he was graduated A. B., class of 1879. He decided upon the pro- fession of law, and entered Columbia Law School, whence he was graduated LL.B., class of 1881. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar as an attorney in June, 1882, and as a counsellor in June, 1885 ; also ad- mitted to the New York bar, rising rapidly to the front rank at the bar of both States. From October, 1888, until August, 1891, he served as Assistant United States Dis- trict Attorney for the State of New Jersey, and was engaged during this period in set- tling the boundary controversy between the State of New Jersey and Delaware. He was one of the associate counsel in the old bury- ing ground suit in Newark, one of the most important litigations in the judicial history of the State. From March, 1891, until March, 1893, he was on the bench as judge of the first criminal court of Newark. But it was as a patent lawyer that he attained greatest fame. He became the personal counsel of Thomas A. Edison Manufactur- ing Company. As one of the foremost pat- ent lawyers of the country he had an extra- ordinary clientele in both the United States and England, maintaining offices in both New York and London. He was kept busy in solving the knotty problems in patent law, his acute mind invariably finding a so- lution that secured his clients their rights under the law. He was highly regarded in the business as well as the professional world, and held directorships in the How- ard Savings Institution and thie Newark National Banking Company.
In political life he was quite active as a conservative Democrat. He was chairman of the Essex County Democratic Commit- tee prior to 1896, and secretary for several terms, being appointed Judge of the Crim- inal Court while acting as secretary of the county committee. His appointment as As-
sistant United States District Attorney was made in 1898.
Mr. Hayes was a man of scholarly and artistic tastes; an art connoisseur and an ardent lover of classic, vocal and instru- mental music. For many years he went to Europe to enjoy the Wagner musical sea- son at Bayreuth, and also attended the "Passion Play" at Oberammergau. Prior to his marriage the walls of liis office were adorned with small oil paintings collected in Europe and America, and in his home were many- rare paintings, porcelains, rare pottery, bronzes and rugs, collected by Mr. Hayes in his travels. A part of this col- lection, known as the "Howard W. Hayes Collection," was presented to the city of Newark, and is on daily exhibition at the rooms of the New Jersey Historical Society on West Park street.
A worker all his life, Mr. Hayes literally died in the harness. He succeeded Eu- gene Vanderpoel, his father-in-law, on the Board of Park Commissioners, at the death of the latter in July, 1902, and gave the af- fairs of the commission close attention un- til the last. He dictated many letters to an assistant from his law office on the Tuesday preceding his death, while confined to his bed, and also dictated law points for the brief he was preparing in the suit of the State of New Jersey against the State of Delaware over the disputed fisheries in the Delaware river. Full of honors he passed quietly away, leaving many friends who later at his funeral testified their regard by assuming their part of responsibility to show by their presence the regard in which they held their friend; the honorary pall bearers included a governor of the State, an at- torney general, vice-chancellors, judges and men high in the business and professional world.
Mr. Hayes married, April 17, 1898, Mary, eldest daugliter of Eugene Vanderpoel, who survives him, as does his sister, Miss Alice W. Hayes.
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BROWN, John J.,
Financier, Useful Public Official.
John Brown, first of this family to come to America, was born August 10, 1783, at Harddabon, Hertfordshire, England. He landed in Boston, Massachusetts, Novem- ber 14, 1806. He married, May 9, 1816, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Ann Jackson, born February 3, 1793, at Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, and landed in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania, July 15, 1800. Among their children was John Jackson, see for- ward.
John Jackson Brown, late of Paterson, New Jersey, business man and banker, son of John and Ann (Jackson) Brown, was born in New York City, February 13, 1817, died in Paterson, July 23, 1894, after a long, honorable and successful career, a record of achievement such as is the good fortune of comparatively few men. When five years old he came to Paterson with his parents, leaving New York on account of an epi- demic of yellow fever which prevailed for a considerable time in that city. His father was engaged in a general grocery and pro- vision business, and was himself a man of sterling qualities and high character. The son attended the common schools of the then village until he was about thirteen years old, and afterward found employment as clerk in a dry goods store, remaining there for the next four years. In 1834 he went to New York City and secured a position as clerk with a manufacturer of caps and furs; but unfortunately his employer failed in business, and this event prevented Mr. Brown from starting in business on his own account as he had intended. He returned to Paterson, and again became clerk in a dry goods store, and a few years afterward succeeded to the grocery business formerly conducted by his father. This he continued with gratifying success until 1844, when he decided to abandon that trade and open a general dry goods establishment in the city, with which business he was more familiar
and which was more in accordance with hi. inclination, and for the next twenty-three years he was reckoned among the leading men of Paterson in mercantile pursuits. I: 1867 he sold out his interest to Mr. G. C. Cooper.
About this time the First National Bank of Paterson, which had been organized in 1864, became financially involved to the ex- tent that its charter was in danger of being revoked, but through the efforts of Mr. Brown a radical reorganization was effect- ed, capital was invested, and he was elected its president, an office he held until the time of his death. To show something of his capacity as executive officer of the reor- ganized bank it may be mentioned that when he entered upon his official duties, Octo- ber 1, 1864, the resources of the institution aggregated the sum of $149,135.80, and on July 18, 1894, the resources amounted to $2.327,215.95. But it was not alone as managing officer of the First National Bank that Mr. Brown's superior business qualities displayed themselves to such splendid advantage and gave him such en- viable prominence in financial circles, for it was chiefly through his efforts that the Pat- erson Savings Institution was incorporated and organized, and opened its doors for business on May 1, 1869. On May Ist of the following year the savings deposit ac- count amounted to $104,442.67, and at the time of his death the total deposits were in excess of $4,000,000, with a surplus ac- count of $445,000, while at the same time the bank had more than sixteen thousand five hundred depositors. At the time of his death he was treasurer of the Passaic Water Company, with which he had been identified since its organization. He also was one of the guiding spirits in the incor- poration and organization of Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association, 1866-67, the plot- ting of its extensive lands for the cemetery tract, and during his connection with the association he served in the capacity of di- rector, vice-president and president. In the
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inception of the Paterson Board of Trade he also figured as one of its organizers, and afterward, so long as he lived, took an ac- tive part in promoting its usefulness as a factor in the mercantile and industrial life of the city. He was largely instrumental in securing for Paterson the splendid sys- tem of parks which add to the adornment of the city and contribute to the comfort of its people. Said one of Mr. Brown's biog- raphers :
"As a public spirited citizen, ready to assume the responsibilities of office, his life's principle not to shirk any duty was his guiding star. At almost the very organization of Paterson as a city he was chosen one of the board of aldermen, and while absent in Europe was again elected to that office by the people. In 1854 he was elected first mayor of Paterson, and after serving his term steadfastly refused a renomination. During his incumbency of that office he projected and car- ried into effect measures for paving sidewalks of the city, which before then had been almost en- tirely neglected; and it was during his connection with the city government that the first sewer was constructed. In 1856 he was induced to accept a nomination for a seat in the legislature of the state, the first candidate of the then newly organ- ized Republican party. He served throughout the term for which he was elected, but positively refused renomination. During the civil war he united with several other prominent citizens of Paterson in the erection of the building known as the 'Wigwam,' which soon became the rallying place for the loyal people of the city. Its motto, 'Free Soil, Free Speech. and Free Men,' became the famous slogan throughout the region. Mr. Brown was an earnest member of the First Bap- tist Church of Paterson. He contributed liberally to the fund for the erection of the house of wor- ship, and served both as chairman and treasurer of the building committees in charge of the work. In his own home he was a delightful and most entertaining host, as well as an interesting con- versationalist. He travelled extensively, was a keen observer of men and events, and in his man- ner frank, generous, genial, with the same greet- ing for all who came to him: and he was no re- spector of persons, and greeted all alike with the same generous warmth of feeling. Thus he lived and so he died. Age had not withered him nor made him crabbed nor petulant, for although nearly eighty years old at the time of his death,
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he remained young in his feelings and manners until his last day, when he was stricken down while walking through Broadway to his office in the bank, with his usual rapid steps, in order to be there promptly at nine o'clock, as was his in- variable custom and pride."
After his death, resolutions of regret and sympathy were adopted by the several insti- tutions with which he was connected in earlier and later years, among them the board of directors of the First National Bank, the trustees of the Paterson Savings Institution, the board of directors of the Passaic Water Company, the Cedar Lawn Cemetery Association, the Board of Alder- men, the Paterson Board of Trade, the So- ciety of the First Baptist Church, and Trin- ity African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Brown married (first) in New York City, October 28, 1841, Caroline L. Cogs- well. born in New York City, November 22, 1825; died February 16, 1852. Chil- dren: 1. Catherine Cogswell, born May 3, 1844; died May 26, 1844. 2. Henry De Camp, September 2, 1845; died September II, 1847. 3. George Baldwin, April 27, 1847; died December 31, 1868. These chil- dren were all born and died at Paterson, New Jersey. Mr. Brown married (second ) April 19, 1855, at Mattawan, New Jersey, Mary, born May 14, 1834, daughter of Wil- liam and Melisse (Doughty) Swinburne, the former of whom was one of the found- ers of the company which in later years be- came known as the Rogers Locomotive Works. Four children were born of this marriage: 1. A daughter, June 2, 1856; died July, 1856. 2. Edwin Swinburne, November 19, 1857. 3. Walter F., May 21, 1859: died January 29, 1871. 4. Caroline Cogswell, March 23, 1864; died February 12, 1894; married Llewellyn T. McKee, of Philadelphia, graduate of the Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland; children: Mary, born September 8, 1889: John Brown, July 19, 1891 ; Llewellyn T., Jan- uary 2, 1894.
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BIGELOW, Alden Bradford,
Merchant, Founder of Cranford.
Alden Bradford Bigelow, founder of Cranford, New Jersey, and long a leading merchant of New York City, was a descend- ant of a very early Massachusetts family. This is a name found early in the New England records with a great variety of spellings. In some places it is written Bog- lo; another wide variation is Beguley ; and various forms are given by various writers of the colonial days, such as Biglo and Big- low. The name has been well represented, both as to numbers and in the character of citizenship throughout the country. It is from the Anglo-Saxon biggan (big) and hleaw, hlaw (a hill, or barrow) ; the place of residence of the person who finally tock it as a surname.
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