Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume I, Part 43

Author: Ogden, Mary Depue
Publication date: 1921
Publisher: Newark, N.J. : Memorial History Company
Number of Pages: 980


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John Bigelow was baptized in England. February 16, 1617, and came to Watertown, Massachusetts, very early. He died July 14, 1703, at the age of eighty-six years. He married, in Watertown, October 30, 1642, Mary Warren, who was also a native of England, born about 1624, daughter of John and Mary Warren, pioneers of Wa- tertown. She died October 19, 1691, and lie married (second) in 1694. Sarah Benis. He had six sons and six daughters, and was the ancestor of numerous families of the name throughout New England. His sons were: John, born October 27, 1643, and Jonathan, December 1I, 1646, settled at Hartford, Connecticut : Daniel, December I, 1650, settled at Framingham, Massachu- setts; Samuel, mentioned below : Joshua, November 5, 1655, died at Weston, Massa- chusetts ; James, resided in Watertown.


Samuel, fourth son of John and Mary ( Warren) Bigelow, was born October 28, 1653, in Watertown, and was an innkeeper tliere from 1702 to 1716. He was admitted to full church communion March 4, 1688, was made a freeman April 16. 1690, and represented the town at the general court in 1708-09-10. He married, June 3, 1674.


Mary Flagg, born June 14, 1657, died Sep- tember 7, 1720, daughter of Thomas and Mary Flagg, early at Watertown. Chil- dren : John, mentioned below; Mary, born September 12, 1677; Samuel, September IS. 1679; Sarah, October 1, 1781; Thom- as, October 24, 1783; Martha, April 4. 1786; Abigail, May 7, 1787; Hannah, mar- ried, May 24, 1711, Daniel Warren; Isaac. March 19, 1790; Deliverance, September 22, 1795.


John (2), eldest child of Samuel and Mary (Flagg) Bigelow, was born May 9. 1675, in Watertown, and settled in Marl- boro, Massachusetts. In 1705 he was at the garrison house of Mr. Thomas Sawyer, and with Sawyer and his sons was taken captive by the Indians and conveyed to Canada. Bigelow and Sawyer were both ingenious mechanics and they proposed to the gov- ernor of Montreal to erect a saw mill, and thereby ransom themselves from captivity. This was accepted, and after they had ful- filled their part, with some delay they were permitted to return to their friends. In token of his gratitude for deliverance from captivity, Mr. Bigelow named the daugli- ters born after his return, Comfort and Freedom. He died September 28, 1769, more than ninety-four years old. He mar- ried, June 12, 1696, Jerusha Garfield, born June 6, 1677, daughter of Joseph and Saralı ( Gale) Garfield, died January 16, 1758. Children: Jerusha, born May 17, 1697; Thankful. June 8, 1699; Joseph, January 1, 1703; John, October 28, 1704: Comfort, September 23, 1707; Freedom, February 14, 1710; Anna and Gershom (twins). No- vember 13, 1714; Jotham, September 21. 1717: Benjamin, October 17, 1720; Saralı, June 20. 1724.


Gershom, third son of John (2) and Je- rusha (Garfield) Bigelow, was born No- vember 13, 1714. in Marlboro, where he passed his life and died January 3, 1812. He married, about 1737. Mary Howe, born June 30. 1718, daughter of Thomas and Rebecca Howe, died June 9, 1802. Chil-


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iren: Timothy, born November 1, 1738; ary 10, 1817; William Dana, August 24, Ivory, mentioned below; Mary, October :), 1746; Anna, April 27, 1749.


Ivory, second son of Gershom and Mary . Howe) Bigelow, was born October 7, 1:41, in Marlboro, where he was lieutenant «i the military company, and died February :4, 1804. He married, August 13, 1763, Sophia, daughter of John and Abigail ( Bar- ker) Banister, born February 7, 1747, died August 13, 1830. Children : William, born January 8, 1764; Christian, June 20, 1765; Solomon, December 2. 1766; Ger- shom, March 22, 1768; Martha, November 22, 1769; Abigail, September 22, 1772; John, March 2, 1774; Sophia, June 7,.1777; Thebe, January 7, 1779; Mary, March 4, 1781 ; Anna, August 8, 1783; Ivory, Jan- uary I, 1785; Benjamin, mentioned below. Gershom, fourth son of Lieut. Ivory and Sophia (Banister) Bigelow, lived in Marl- boro, where he died October 27, 1847. He married (first) January 22. 1787, Mary Howe, daughter of Abraham and Lydia (second) April 26, 1822, Eunice Wilder. Marlboro, died April 20, 1820. He married ( second), April 26, 1822, Eunice Wilder. He had sixteen children. The third son and seventh child of the first wife Mary Howe, Lambert Bigelow, was born Novem- ber 1, 1801, in Marlboro, where he was many years a merchant, was representative in the general court, and for twenty-two successive years town clerk. He married Emela F. Dickinson of Northfield, Massa- chusetts, and their daughter, Olivia M. Bigelow, became the wife of Alden Brad- ford Bigelow, who receives extended men- tion below.


Benjamin, youngest child of Lieutenant Ivory and Sophia (Banister) Bigelow, was born June 3, 1788, in Marlboro, where he lived and died in 1829. He married Mary, widow of James Symmes, and daughter of Joseph and Lucy (Barnes) Trowbridge, born May 23, 1793, in Marlboro. Children : Joseph T., born 1812: Louisa, 1815, bap- tized October 26, 1817: Mary, born Janu-


1819; Theophilus, baptized September 8, 1822, died young; Theophilus, born Feb- ruary 21, 1825; Alden Bradford, mention- ed below.


Alden Bradford Bigelow, youngest child of Benjamin and Mary (Trowbridge) Big- elow, was born February 10, 1827, in Marl- boro, and died in Cranford, New Jersey, February 23, 1905. He was educated in Massachusetts and New York, and, being an ambitious youth, embarked upon a busi- ness career in the City of New York, where he came in time to be an extensive importer of silks and fine dress goods, continuing in business forty years. He was among the founders of Cranford, New Jersey, where he purchased property, and located before 1866. The present site of Cranford was then a tract of farm land, bordered by swamp and pasture fields. He foresaw the possibilities of development, and purchased a tract of land on which he erected his home and proceeded to make improvements, developing one of the finest suburban resi- dence sections in the vicinity of New York. He opened streets, laid sewers and side- walks, erected dwellings, and was able to attract to the locality many desirable resi- dents. He was an active supporter of Re- publican principles and policies, and was repeatedly honored by his fellow citizens with election to offices of responsibility and trust. In his old age he lived a quiet, re- tired life, and was little known to the mod- ern residents of Cranford, who gladly availed themselves of the advantages of- fered by the beautiful suburban town. Mr. Bigelow was a patron of the religious and educational interests of the place, and gave substantial aid to the churches, schools and library, which are today among the leading features which make the town so desirable as a place of residence. After his death the Cranford "Chronicle" said of him: "Mr. Bigelow was identified with the history of this town from its beginning. No one else


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had so much to do with shaping its destiny. He was concerned with its business, social and religious interests, and gave liberally of his time and substance to them all. He was & man of sturdy personality, and of more than ordinary ability. . . His integ- rity and uprightness were never ques- tioned."


Mr. Bigelow married, January 20, 1852, at Marlboro, Massachusetts, Olivia M. Bigelow, daughter of Lambert and Emily ( Dickinson) Bigelow, as above noted. Chil- dren : Benjamin, born November 8, 1852, in New York, died in 1854; Olivia, Febru- ary 4, 1855, died three days later; Rich- ard Alden, April 20, 1857, resided in Cran- ford, and died a few years before his fath- er; Adelaide Louise, February 28, 1861. married, August 26, 1885, William Drys- dale, a well-known author and newspaper correspondent of Cranford; Frederick Eastman, October 23, 1863, died March 24. 1885; Emily Mary, October 19, 1866, in Cranford; Edward Alexis, January 8, 1872, Beatrice Maria, September 8, 1873.


DRYSDALE, William,


Journalist, Author.


It is a trite but true saying that there is always room at the top, and when one has advanced far beyond others, who perhaps started ahead of him on the highway of life, it is because he has been endowed with su- perior ability and has exerted in a more masterly degree those abilities which con- stitute the basis of success. This is espe- cially true of William Drysdale, late of Cranford, Union county, New Jersey, whose interests were broad, and in whose nature things narrow and undignified could find no foothold. His writings, which were of a high order of literary merit, so closely touched the general interests of society, that his death brought a sense of personal be- reavement to all with whom he had come in contact. A man of particularly bright mind and keen intellect, he was continually


broadening his knowledge by reading and research. He was a splendid example of the self-reliant, forceful man, who accom- plishes what he undertakes by the exercise of practical, systematic effort.


The Drysdale family has been resident in this country since the eighteenth century, and it has been ably represented in the pro- fessions and other walks of life. The name is derived from a dale bordering upon the River Dryse, hence the form Drysdale. Coat of arnis: First, a crane's head, crowned; second, anchor, with cable ; third, a martlet ; motto: Per varios casus. The families of Drysdale, Douglass, Lawmie, Hamilton and Walker are alone entitled to it. The inartlet was borne by those who went to the Holy Land to fight against the Saracens.


The first William Drysdale, born April 3, 1761, died August 12, 1823. He married, October 24, 1786, Rebecca Murray, born April 13, 1765, died May 9, 1834. She was the fourth daughter of Baron Murray, of Philiphaugh, and first cousin of Sir Walter Scott, Baronet. The coat of arms of the Murrays of Philiphaugh is as follows: A demiman, winding a hunting horn. Motto: Hinc usque superna venabor, meaning "Henceforth I will direct my pursuit toward heavenly things." Children: Thomas, died in infancy; Walter Scott, married Eliza- beth Dodd; James, died in infancy; Wil- liam, of further mention; Margaret, mar- ried John Leslie McIntosh; Anne Scott, married Rev. Alexander Duff ; Rebecca, married James Purvis, of Berwick-upon- Tweed; Thomas, married Christian Smil- lie : James Murray, married Ann Torey : Andrew, died in middle life; John and Ebenezer, twins, died in infancy; Allison Murray, married Rev. John Stewart.


William Drysdale, son of William and Rebecca (Murray) Drysdale, was born July 6, 1792, and died June 16, 1856. He mar- ried, December 25, 1817, Janetta Renfrew Turnbull. The Turnbull coat-of-arms is: First, A cubit arm erect, couped below


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the wrist, holding a sword erect of the last, enfiled with a bull's head erased. Second, A bull's head erased. Motto: Audaci fa- vet fortuna, meaning "Fortune favors the bold." Third, a bull's head cabossed (sa- ble ) armed vert. Motto: "Courage." Chil- dren: Alexander Turnbull, married Em- ma M. Ritter; William, married (first) Mary O. N. Montgomery, ( second) Glori- anna Matilda Reid; Walter Scott, of furth- er mention; James Murray, died in 1863; Thomas, died in infancy; Thomas Mur- ray, married Mary Louisa Atlee.


Rev. Walter Scott Drysdale, son of Wil- liam and Janetta Renfrew (Turnbull) Drys- dale, was born January 8, 1823, and died in Brooklyn, New York, April 6, 1882. He was a Presbyterian minister. He married, June 5, 1851, Mary Catherine Thompson, born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, May 7, 1824, died in Brooklyn, New York, Octo- ber 25, 1881, a daughter of Dr. William Thompson. This union was blessed with one child, whose name heads this sketch.


William Drysdale, the subject of this sketch, was born in Lancaster, Pennsyl- vania, July 11, 1852, and died at his beau- tiful home in Cranford, New Jersey, Sep- tember 20, 1901. His early education was acquired under the able instruction of his father, who was well versed in the classics, and he then became a student at the Colum- bia College. From his earliest years he had shown remarkable ability as a writer, and this gift was developed with increas- ing years. In 1874, when he was still in early manhood, he became one of the lead- ing reporters of the "New York Sun," and from that time onward his journalistic ca- reer was a series of brilliant successes. While a member of the staff of the "New York Sun," he spent six months on repor- torial work in connection with the famous trial of the Rev. Henry Ward Beecher, his interesting and stirring reports attracting the attention of the entire country. A sin- cere admirer and friend of Mr. Beecher, that gentleman requested him to publish ex-


tracts from his writings and addresses, and this Mr. Drysdale did in 1888, under the title of "Proverbs from Plymouth Pulpit." During the Centennial Exposition at Phil- adelphia in 1876, Mr. Drysdale became the city editor of the "Philadelphia Times," and under his leadership there were given some remarkable examples of rapid and ac- curate news gathering, such as had not been known in that city previously. Upon his return to New York the following year, he became a member of the staff of the "New York Times." . His association with this paper extended over a period of almost a quarter of a century, and during this time he accomplished some of his most brilliant journalistic work. His last work for this paper was to report the opening of the Pan- American Exposition at Buffalo, in which his powers of description had full play. This report appeared in the form of a se- ries of letters over his own signature, and were eagerly looked forward to by thou- sands of readers. While in the service of the "Times" he spent a large portion of his time in traveling, making stays of greater or lesser duration at various places, and from these sending in material which made the portion of the paper in which his ar- ticles appeared one of the most eagerly looked for of the entire publication. In this connection he went to Mexico and Cu- ba in 1879, and also visited, at later periods, Bermuda, Nassau, Cuba, Mexico, St. Kitts, Jamaica, Montserratt, Martinique, Trini- dad, and the South and South-West of the United States. The mass of material he collected during these years of travel also formed the foundation for another phase of his literary career. He wove the facts with which he had thus stored his mind into most interesting stories of adventure, suited for boys' reading, and these, with their wonderful descriptions, as well as their fas- cinating series of adventures, are as popular at the present day as when they were writ- ten. Among the best known of these tales are the folowing: "In Sunny Lands; Out-


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door Life in Cuba and Nassau," "The Prin- cess of Montserratt," "The Mystery of Abel Forefinger," "The Young Reporter," "The Fast Mail," "The Beach Patrol," "The Young Supercargo," "Cadet Standish of the St. Louis," "The Treasury Club," "Helps for Ambitious Boys," "Helps for Ambitious Girls." His last work for the "New York Times" was a tour in Europe, 1887-1889, and during this he wrote weekly letters to his paper, which were intensely interesting and diversified, and magnificent examples of his descriptive powers.


Mr. Drysdale married, in Cranford, New Jersey, August 25, 1885, Adelaide Louise Bigelow, daughter of Alden B. and Olivia M. Bigelow, and their only child was: Wil- liam Bigelow Drysdale, born August 28, 1886, died January 18, 1915. He was a young man of great promise. engaged in the real estate and insurance business, and stood high in the esteem of all who knew him, both in business and social circles. About a year before his death he had form- ed a connection with the Corn Products Company, in which concern he had already attained a position of great responsibility. He married, in 1912, Mary Burke, who survives him with one child, Mary Jane.


William Drysdale was a man of digni- fied and imposing appearance, tall and portly, and, like many big men, had a na- ture kindly and gentle as a child's. During the last year of his life, when he was oblig- ed to endure excruciating pain at times, he steadily maintained the sweetness of his disposition, and the expression of his con- tenance in death was that of one who lies in calm and peaceful sleep. His loss to the community, as well as to his family and friends, was irreparable.


SEWARD, Theodore Frelinghuysen,


Musician, Composer, Brotherhood Founder.


The name of Seward, which was so ably represented by the late Theodore Freling- huysen Seward, of East Orange, New Jer-


sey, has been a noted one, both in this coun- try and in England, from whence it was brought, for many generations. Represen- tatives of it have attained distinction in many fields of endeavor, and always to the lasting benefit of humanity.


Theodore Frelinghuysen Seward, son of Israel and Mary (Johnson) Seward, was born in Florida, Orange county, New York, in 1835. He was a kinsman of Wil- liam H. Seward, who was Secretary of State in President Lincoln's cabinet. Mr. Seward died at his daughter's home in Orange, New Jersey, August 30, 1902. Mr. Seward married, in Brooklyn, New York, June 12, 1860, Mary H. Coggeshall, daugh- ter of William Holden and Sarah Lathem (Ashbey) Coggeshall. Children : Mary Josephine, born in Paris, France, July 16, 1869, died May 2, 1882; Theodora Mason, born in Paris, France, April 23, 1876: Wil- liam van Heenistra, born in Troy, New York, December 12, 1877, died June 24, 1882.


Theodore Frelinghuysen Seward acquir- 'ed his earlier education at the Seward In- stitute in his native town, and this was supplemented by most thorough training in an Institute for Music, in North Reading. Massachusetts. He rendered such efficient work in so many branches that it is a mat- ter of difficulty to say in which he excell- ed, so perfect were the results he achieved. For a time he devoted himself to teaching music and to musical composition, but the influence which led him from musical to religious work was felt almost at the out- set of his career. As organist in churches of various denominations he was brouglit into contact with views and ideas radically differing from the Presbyterian doctrines and theories in which he had been trained. and he was led to realize that the truly earnest people are all of the same religious type, no matter what their sectarian name or formulation of creed. He naturally transferred his attention from the har- mony of music to the harmony of life, in-


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Theo Je deward


CYCLOPEDIA OF NEW JERSEY


dividual life and social life, in the broad- est sense of the words. Gradually he com- menced to look for the "common de- nominator," the fundamental truths upon which all could and did agree. As a result of this study he finally became so impressed with the uselessness and the in- finite harm of sectarian divisions, that he resolved to devote his life to the cause of unity. He made a very careful and sym- pathetic study of all the various cults and religious movements until, as he said, he became like the "central" of the telephone system. He remained in the orthodox church, but was in close touch with all out- side movements, all of which represented some form of protest against traditional dogmatism and ecclesiasticism. During his later years he considered himself as a men- ber of the Christian Science Church. He was the originator of the Brotherhood of Christian Unity, in 1891 ; the Don't Worry Clubs, in 1897; and the Golden Rule Broth -. erhood, in 1901, as that rule supplies a basis of unity for all religious faiths, and of solidarity for the entire human race.


What Mr. Seward regarded as his most distinctive and interesting work in musical compilation was the recording and preser- vation of many of the religious melodies of the southern slaves, known as "spirit- uals," or "slave songs," two examples of which are "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot." and "Turn Back Pharaoh's Army." He col- lected more than one hundred of these and published them under the title of "Jubilee Songs." This work was done in connec- tion with the famous Fisk Jubilee Singers, who raised several hundred thousand dol- lars for their University at Nashville, Ten- nessee. Mr. Seward was musical director and voice trainer for the company upon its second European tour, and while abroad made the acquaintance of many celebrated people among them being: Gladstone, Duke of Argyle, Lord Shaftesbury and Miss Muloch. Mr. Seward was never an autograph hunter, yet he prized very high-


ly the Oxford Bible given him in London by Dwight L. Moody ( as a souvenir of the aid he gave in the great revival of 1875- 76) in which the above and other eminent harnes are written. When asked what work of his lite he regarded with the great- est satisfaction, he replied: "Originating and giving currency to the phrase 'spirit- ual knowing' as a protest against mater- ialism. and suggesting an annual Golden Rule Day throughout the world for chil- dren (Jews and Christians) on the first Friday, Saturday and Sunday of Decem- ber in each year. It will be sure to be car- ried out sooner or later, and thus the world will be once a year encircled by a golden band of love.


Some of his musical compilations were very successful, the sale of one book, "The Temple Choir," going beyond a hundred thousand copies. In 1869 Mr. Seward went to Europe and travelling for six months through different countries realiz- ed that in comparison with others, England was an unmusical nation. What was his surprise then when again in England, in 1875, to find a wonderful transformation. all the people singing even as difficult mus- ic as the Hallelujah Chorus in a church service. How had this been accomplished ? He found that the English Tonic Sol-ía system of music was the factor. Thinking 10 bring home so beneficent a system he entered the Tonic Sol-fa College and took all the degrees which lead up to the high- est musical statics. His own music was as familiar in England as in America, and while in London the musicians gave him a public reception in Exeter Hall. Thus he introduced the Tonic Sol-fa system of teaching music in this country. He was for many years editor of the "New York Musical Gazette." and the "New York Musical Pioneer," and for some time was professor of vocal music in Teachers' Col- lege. Columbia University, New York City. Among the other musical books accredited to Mr. Seward are: "American Tune


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Book," "The Singer," "The Coronation," "Glee Circle," "The Tonic Sol-fa Series," Nos. I and 2. Among his religious works are: "The School of Life," 1894; "Heav- en Every Day," 1896; "Don't Worry, or, Spiritual Emancipation the Scientific Law of Happiness," 1897; "Spiritual Knowing, or Bible Sunshine," 1900; "How to Get Acquainted With God," 1902. Mr. Sew- ard was a member of the New England Society, of Orange, New Jersey, and a member of the Advisory Board of the In- ternational Sunshine Society, whose head- quarters are at No. 96 Fifth Avenue, New York City.


It is but fitting that this sketch should close with a few extracts from the many words of praise that were written upon the appearance of the writings of Mr. Seward. Concerning "The School of Life" Profes- sor John Fiske said in part : "It is a long time since I have seen a book of that kind which deals with the subject in so thorough and satisfactory a manner. It is a book which is going to aid many souls and prove extremely helpful." Rev. Arthur Lowndes, in "American Church Quarterly," says : "In its treatment of the deepest problems of life this book is a masterpiece. The more I read it the more I am amazed at the depth and breadth of the work. I have never read a book so suggestive of thought." The "Review of Reviews" had this to say : "Mr. Seward writes in no dogmatic style, but for the sake of helpful influence, and out of the resources of experience; clearly. and with elevated, attractive style." Fran- ces E. Willard says: "I can but think that if a group of good people would assemble to read this book, or having read it, would meet to talk over its propositions, they would find great advantage to their ethical development and spiritual life." Of "Don't Worry, or Spiritual Emancipation the Scientific Law of Happiness," President George A. Gates, of Iowa College, said : "There are few lessons more universally needed among our American people than


that which this little book so attractively enforces. Genuine thanks for the spirit that gives birth to and sends out so help- ful a message." From the Rev. David H. Greer, D.D., rector of St. Bartholomew's Church, New York City, we have the fol- lowing: "I have read the proofs of 'Don't Worry,' and think it will make a valuable and helpful little book, stimulating thought and contributing to happiness. What is so much needed today is the biological inter- pretation of Christian truth; truth to live by, without which we cannot really live at all. Many people have the notion that re- ligion is one thing and science another ; we should try to make them feel that they are not two things, but one. The God in na- ture is the God revealed in Jesus Christ. You see that, and I hope you will be suc- cessful in making others see it." From a private letter we select the following : "The last year has been a precious one to me, in that I have begun to practice what you so beautifully teach. Worry is unbelief in a most insidious form. I am casting it off bit by bit. The tremendous power of thought in its effect on bodily health has come to me as a fresh revelation. Your chapter on 'The Problem of Evil' gives me a real light. That evil is a fact, but not a positive force; that it is to be warded off rather than attacked is a new thought and full of power. Mrs. E. S. G., Grinnell, Iowa."




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