USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 29
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dist denomination. Fraternally he was a member of the Order of Free and Accepted Masons, in which he attained the thirty- second degree; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; Lotos, Tren- ton, Trenton Country, Republican and Fel- lowcraft clubs, all of Trenton.
Mr. Maddock married, at Trenton, New Jersey, September 8, 1887, Kate Lent, a daughter of William and Anna Manser, and their son Haroid S. was born Novem- ber 18, 1890; now vice-president of Thomas Maddock's Sons' Company. While the ideas of Mr. Maddock were conservative to a certain extent, he kept well in touch with the trend of the times, and incorporated in his plans for the development of the inter- ests ir: his charge, the best ideas to be gath- ered from other undertakings of a similar nature. He was a man of strong convic- tions, which he advocated with emphasis ; of strong principles, to which he consistent- ly adhered : yet when the general good ap- peared to demand it, he could yield with grace to the will of the majority.
SMITH, Charles Perrin,
Leader in Community and National Affairs
In the death of Charles Perrin Smith. the city of Trenton, State of New Jersey, and the country at large, lost a man of in- estimable value, a man whose every thought was unselfish devotion to his country, a man who lived only to better the condition of his fellow men. The name he bore is one of the most frequent occurrence as a surname in all English speaking lands.
In the history of the world the "smith" has been a pioneer of civilization in every country, in every clime and in every age. He forged the swords and plowshares, and made the coats of mail and war chariots of all the nations of antiquity. His value as a member of the community has never been denied. Among our Anglo-Saxon ancestors the smith was a member of his lord's coun-
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cil, and at feasts sat in the place of honor, at the lord's right hand. The name Smith, anciently spelled Smythe, is derived from "smite," and signifies "striker," or "one who beats," referring to the use of the hammer. It was one of the first occupative surnames adopted by an English speaking people when they stepped out of the twilight of the Middle Ages into the light of modern civilization. The surname has been borne by many distinguished men both in Eng- land and America, from early times to the present, and it now seems to be as sugges- tive of energy, industry and excellence as it was a thousand years ago.
Charles Smith, great-grandfather of Charles Perrin Smith, married Margaret Perrin, a descendant of the Perrins of Vir- ginia, who were prominent in the Huguenot colony of that State. Samuel, eldest brother of General George Washington, married the widow of a Virginia Perrin.
Perrin, son of Charles and Margaret (Perrin) Smith, suffered greatly in the de- struction of property by the conflagration of Norfolk, the despoiling of his plantation, and the carrying away of his negroes by the British and refugees. He married Mar- garet Wishart, a sister of Thomas Wishart, who lost his life in the Continental army, and of George, who was captured by the enemy and never returned.
George Wishart Smith, son of Perrin and Margaret (Wishart) Smith, was an officer in the Maryland Line during the War of 1812, and at the head of his command took part in the repulse of the enemy at St. Michael's, by which action that part of the State was relieved from further invasion. He was a resident of Talbot county, Mary- land, at the time of his marriage, but a short time prior to his death had removed to Philadelphia, where his death occurred. He was related by marriage to the Calverts, Singletons, Moseleys, Dudleys, Hancocks, Lands, Scantlings, and other prominent families of the State of Virginia. He mar- ried Hannah Carpenter Ellet, who in the
paternal line was a direct descendant of Governor Thomas Lloyd and Samuel Car- penter, intimate friends and coadjutors of William Penn. Watson says: "The name of Samuel Carpenter is connected with everything of a public nature in the early annals of Pennsylvania; I have seen his name at every turn in searching the records. He was the Stephen Girard of his day in wealth, and the William Sansom in the im- provements he suggested and the edifices he built. He was one of the greatest im- provers and builders in Philadelphia, and after William Penn the wealthiest man in the Province." Governor Thomas Lloyd, a member in high standing of the Society of Friends, because of religious persecution, left his native country, Wales, and with his family joined Penn in the colonization of Pennsylvania. He was a son of Charles and Elizabeth (Stanley) Lloyd, the latter of the Stanley-Derby family, and the former of Dolobran, and a descendant of Aleth, Prince of Dyfed whose line can be traced to the sixth century. The Lloyds are allied to many distinguished noble families, and trace their descent to Margaret, daughter of Philip le Hardie. King of France, and who was queen of Edward I. of England. The name is found in honorable connection with some of the most important events in English history. Rachel, a daughter of Governor Thomas Lloyd, married Samuel Preston, of Maryland, who was mayor of Philadelphia in 1711. Their daughter Han- nah married Samuel Carpenter, son of the Samuel Carpenter mentioned above, then the family became allied by marriage with the Ellets. The maternal line of Hannah Carpenter (Ellet ) Smith is descended from John Smith, a colleague of Fenwick in the settlement of West Jersey.
Charles Perrin Smith, son of George Wis- hart and Hannah Carpenter (Ellet) Smith, was born in Philadelphia, in 1819, during a. temporary residence of his family in that city, and died at his home in Trenton, New Jersey, June 27, 1883. He was a very young
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lad when he removed to Salem, New Jer- sey, and in that section his education was acquired. He was heir to great wealth, which was managed by an executor, and he placed it in the Bank of Maryland, at Balti- more, which later failed, and in the course of a few days, all of it was lost. The entire course of his life was changed by this failure. Instead of having wealth at his command, he was obliged to depend upon his own efforts for support, but this ap- peared to furnish an impulse which would otherwise have been lacking. At an early age he formed a business connection with "The Lyceum," at that time the most im- portant institution of its kind in the State. He wrote for the press on many subjects and gradually achieved success. At the age of twenty-one years he became the editor and proprietor of "The National Standard," and not long afterward, of "The Harri- sonian." These papers were financially in straits at the time Mr. Smith took charge of them, but he labored with undaunted courage and energy until he had cleared them from their difficulties. and made them active factors in the Harrison presidential campaign. He also made them the medium for encouraging other important measures, among these being the cause of manufacture in Salem, the erection of the lunatic asylum at Trenton, the abolition of imprisonment for debt, the more frequent and thorough establishment of public schools, and the furnishing of relief and employment to the poor. Temperance and morality were themes constantly discussed in these publi- cations, with very satisfactory results. The Whig Association of Salem was called into being by Mr. Smith, and he was its presi- dent. He was one of the organizers of the Salem Insurance Company and the Building Association, becoming a director of the last mentioned. He was the first to broach the subject of a County Agricultural Society, and was called into office as secre- tary of this association. Although the com- munity was a Democratic one, Mr. Smith
was honored by almost unanimous election to membership in the Board of Freeholders, and also as director. When the National Guard was the only military organization south of Trenton, he was captain in this body, and he served as judge-advocate of the Salem Brigade. He served as a mem- ber of the Whig County Committee for a period of eleven years, and the zeal and energy which he supported by his writings in "The National Standard," in favor of the Whig party, resulted in placing every branch of the State government in the hands of that party. In 1848 he permitted his name to be used as a candidate for the office of surrogate. He was defeated by a very small majority, but the vote cast for him was with two exceptions the largest ever cast for any candidate in the county. In 1851 he abandoned editorial work, and about this time toured about six thousand miles in the west and northwest, later pub- lishing valuable statistical and other in- formation concerning this trip.
He wrote and published much concern- ing the importance of developing the re- sources of West Jersey by the construc- tion of a railroad, and in connection with this idea. called a public meeting on his own responsibility. His efforts in this di- rection were opposed by the Camden & Amboy Railroad Company. He was nom- inated for the Legislature at this time, and while he had many and bitter opponents, he won the election, his vote in the Demo- cratic city of Salem being "twice as large as ever before cast for any candidate under any circumstances." While in the Senate he was assigned to membership in the com- mittees on education and treasurer's ac- counts. It was largely owing to his in- strumentality that the bill to establish a State Normal School was reported and passed. Among the most important bills, the passage of which he advocated, were those against bribery at elections, and pro- viding employment for the poor. It is not possible, within the limits of this article, to
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discuss in detail all the benefits arising from the presence of Mr. Smith in the Legisla- ture, but the influence of the measures he introduced and supported, is a wide-reach- ing one. It was largely owing to his de- termined efforts that Lincoln was nominated to the presidency, and of the wide-spread and beneficial effects of that movement. there is no need to speak. At the outbreak . of the rebellion, Mr. Smith considered his duty clearly defined. Ardent in his sup- port of the Union from the outset, he em- ployed all his personal and official influence in encouraging patriotism through the me- dium of the press. When Lincoln passed through Trenton on his way to Washington to be inaugurated, Mr. Smith was selected to take charge of the official delegation from Philadelphia, and he otherwise fully par- ticipated in the ceremonies at the State Capitol. His work in connection with the Civil War can best be described in the words of an eminent authority, who wrote:
"On the 16th of April, 1861, Mr. Smith form- ally addressed a letter to Governor Olden. earn- estly proffering his services to the State and Nation for any duty whereby they could best be rendered available. The Governor accepted his offer, and promised employment. It having trans- pired that Fort Delaware was liable to be cap- tured by disloyalists. Mr. Smith was dispatched to Philadelphia to take such action in arousing the authorities as he might deem necessary. Through his representations, based on informa- tion of a reliable nature transmitted to him, the fort was garrisoned by the Commonwealth Ar- tillery and the danger averted. He also procur- ed tents for the unsheltered regiments through General Patterson, and medical and surgical supplies through General Wool. The following service was referred to by the adjutant-general in his annual report : Mr. Smith was hastily dis- patched to New York, and under extraordinary circumstances procured nearly twenty-five thous- and rounds of musket ball cartridges and one hundred thousand percussion caps for the four regiments already en route for the seat of war, and placed it on board the flotilla at midnight during the prevalence of a severe storm. The ammunition, transportation, etc .. were only ob- tained through most persistent efforts, and sole- ly upon his personal responsibility, at a period
when neither the New York authorities or rail- road companies would extend credit to the State. He was frequently dispatched to New York, Philadelphia and Washington, on important missions, passing down the Potomac in front of the enemies' batteries, visiting our camps in Vir- ginia, and, in brief, proceeding everywhere and doing everything required of him. He made a midnight trip to Washington while the enemy were crossing the Potomac above that city, and ramors of burning bridges and Cavalry raids were rife along the route, and he disregarded warnings to leave Washington while there was yet time until he had faithfully performed his duty. His visits to the War Department were eminently successful, and on one occasion, as. informed, he saved for the State seventy-five thousand dollars through tact and energy in ob- taining interviews with the Secretary of War at critical and seemingly impossible periods. These journeys were generally dernier resorts, and were always successful. Governor Olden, in expressing his acknowledgments, emphatical- ly remarked: 'You have performed for the State important service, and relieved my mind of great anxiety;' and again he was character- ized in the Executive Department as one who never failed. Among other services he was in- strumental, at the request of the Governor, in re- taining Hexamer's famous battery in the service of the State after it had resolved, and was al- ready striking tents, to take service in New York. A very brief delay, and the heroic rec- ord of this battery would not now form one of the most brilliant chapters in the military his- tory of the State."
Mr. Smith was one of that class of busy men who, because of their activity, appear always to have time left for new duties and responsibilities. He was a member of an important committee of the Sanitary Fair in Philadelphia, of the Camden Auxiliary Sanitary Committee, and one of the or- ganizers, by appointment, of the Trenton branch of the New Jersey Sanitary Commis- sion. Governor Olden entrusted to him the nomination of officers for one of the best regiments raised in West Jersey, and he named all with the exception of the chap- lain and surgeon. His recommendations for other regiments were also invariably suc- cessful. He became commander of the Trenton Artillery at a time when this was
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the only organization of its kind in the State. He was the leading spirit in the organization of the Union League of Tren- ton, and was indefatigable in his activities in its interests, his name being the first on the roll of about one thousand, and at vari- ous times he filled almost all the offices. As vice-president of the State Loyal League he was frequently called upon to discharge the duties of the executive office. In con- nection with his work for these various as- sociations, it is but proper to state that his services were given without expectation of remuneration of any kind, and that even his traveling and other incidental expenses were defrayed by himself. So great was his patriotism and confidence in the govern- ment that, when affairs were at the lowest ebb, he invested all of his available fortune in government funds. Governor Olden re- nominated Mr. Smith, as a Union man. clerk of the Supreme Court, and with but a very few exceptions, he received the rec- ommendation of every man of prominence in the State, irrespective of political party. Among the duties discharged by Mr. Smith was that of taking charge of and entertain- ing Secretary of State Seward, Private Sec- retary Lincoln, and others of the govern- ment committee, on the occasion of the re- ception of the remains of Minister Dayton, upon their arrival from Europe. Immedi- ately after the election of November, 1867, Mr. Smith inaugurated a movement for the nomination of General Grant to tlie presidency. It was due to his efforts that the act was passed for compulsory educa- tion, and he succeeded Governor Olden as one of the commissioners to enlarge the State House. This also was an office carry- ing no compensation. The success of the Centennial Celebration in Trenton was ascribed largely to the personal efforts of Mr. Smith.
The leisure hours of Mr. Smith were devoted to literary labors, and he achieved a reputation in this field both in this coun- try and in Great Britain. He was elected
a member of the famous Powysland His- torical Society of Wales, corresponding member of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society of Boston, and honor- ary member of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. The first mentioned society invited him to pay them a visit, and he was entertained by them most royally. He was tendered the position of aide-de-camp by the governor, and was an honorary member of many military organizations, the soldiers composing these all looking upon him as a friend. and decorating him with their badges. For a considerable period of time he served as foreman of the grand jury of the United States. Two extensive tours were made throughout Europe, the publish- ed accounts of these, furnished by Mr. Smith, making most interesting reading, and he also traveled extensively in his own country and Canada. Mr. Smith was the owner of a fine private yacht, and in this he was in the habit of cruising along the coast of the United States, and thus became thor- oughly well acquainted with it. His taste in art matters was an exceptionally fine one, and many rare pictures adorned the walls of his fine home, which was rendered even more attractive by a well and a carefully selected library. For many years he was a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, and for a long time a delegate to the Dio- cesan Convention. An excellent portrait of Mr. Smith, painted by Miss Sinnickson, of Philadelphia, hangs in the rotunda of the State Capitol at Trenton. having been pre- sented by his daughter. Miss Elizabeth Al- ford Smith.
Mr. Smith married, in 1843. Hester A .. a daughter of Matthew Driver, Esq .. of Caroline county, Maryland.
DUNHAM, Sering Potter,
Merchant, Financier, Progressive Citizen.
Among the prominent men of Trenton, New Jersey, who were actively identified with her business and financial interests,
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as well as making their presence and in- fluence felt for good in many other direc- tions, was the late Sering Potter Dunham, president of the well known firm, S. P. Dunham & Company.
The surname Dunham is derived from an old English place name, and is spelled in various ways-Denham, Donham, Down- ham, Dunham. The ancient coat-of-arms of the English Dunhams is described as fol- lows: Azure, on a chief indented or, a label gules. The arms borne by Sir John Dunham (1498) were quartered with those of Bowett, Zouche, Berge and Bellaqua. The family of the American immigrant can be traced to the very beginning of the use of surnames in England, Rychert Donham being of record in Devonshire, England. in 1294, where his forbears had probably liv- ed for generations.
John Dunham, a lineal descendant of Ry- chert Donham, was born in Scrooby. Eng- land, in 1589, and died in New England, March 2, 1668-69. He came to America on the "Mayflower," but on account of re- ligious difficulties had changed his name to that of Goodman. He married in Leyden. Holland, October 17, 1619, Abigail Wood, a distant relative. He was chosen deacon of the church in Plymouth, New England, in 1633. He was a useful and prominent citizen, and was one of the purchasers of the town of Dartmouth. He was a weav- er by trade, and a deputy to the General Court. He had eleven children.
David Dunham, great-great-great-grand- son of John Dunham, and grandfather of Sering P. Dunham. purchased the homestead at Larger Cross Roads. more than a cen- tury ago, and this is now still in the posses- sion of the family. He married Martha Barclay.
who received a commission for his valu- able service during the Revolution.
Sering Potter Dunham, son of David and Mary ( Potter) Dunham, was born at Larger Cross Roads, Somerset county, New Jersey, October 20, 1842, and died at his home, No. 186 West State street, Tren- ton, New Jersey, November 16, 1913. The common schools of his native township fur- nished him with a plain but substantial and practical education, and he commenced his business career at the early age of six- teen years. He became a clerk, at Rah- way, New Jersey, in the business of Wood- ruff & Dunham, his salary being twenty- five dollars the first year, fifty dollars the second, and one hundred dollars the third year, during all this period having his board and lodging free. His ambition and natural ability soon enabied him to advance himself. and we find the energetic young man opening a store for himself soon af- ter the Civil War. He established a store of his own at Bedminster, Somerset coun- ty, New Jersey, continuing this until he had an opportunity of selling it to advan- tage at the expiration of four years. Pot- tersville was the next scene of his business activity, remaining there two years, after which he was clerk for a short time in a business in Somerville. Not long after- ward he purchased an interest in one of the largest dry goods stores in the place, the firm becoming Cox, Quick & Dunham. Sixteen years were spent in Somerville, the business with which he was connected increasing largely in this time. Mr. Dun- ham came to Trenton, New Jersey, in Sep- tember. 1882, and there formed a partner- ship with John H. Scudder, the firm becom- ing known as Scudder & Dunham. The business was commenced on a small scale, only six clerks being employed, and at the end of ten years. Mr. Dunham was making use of the entire building, and an "L" through to State street. Mr. Scudder retir- ed in 1895, when the firm name was chang-
David Dunham, son of David and Mar- tha (Barclay) Dunham, was a farmer and leather tanner of Larger Cross Roads, and died March 15, 1893. He married Mary Potter, of Pottersville, New Jersey, a di- rect descendant of Colonel Samuel Potter, ed to read S. P. Dunham & Company. Later
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the firm was incorporated, Mr. Dunham be- coming president of the corporation; his son, Edward W. Dunham, treasurer; E. Smith Lamson, secretary ; and John Scud- der Dunham, another son, a director. More than one hundered thousand square feet of floor space are now occupied by this con- cern, and scores of clerks are employed. Possessed of great executive ability, and of progressive ideas, Mr. Dunham was the organizer of many innovations. Among these was the early closing movement, which is now followed by all large estab- lishments, while formerly the clerks were obliged to stay as long as customers came in. Many of the employes of this business have spent their entire business lives there, and now have sons of their own, also in its employ. Mr. Dunham was a stockholder and director of the Mechanics' National Bank of Trenton, and served as president of this institution from 1891 to 1900.
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Intense patriotism was a distinguishing characteristic of Mr. Dunham, and in 1862 he enlisted in Company A, Thirtieth Reg- iment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, and did sentinel duty at the capitol at Wash- ington. He lay in reserve at the battle of Fredericksburg, Virginia, and, having con- tracted typhoid fever, was sent to his home in 1863. He gave his political support to the Democratic party until the "Silver Is- sue" was in question, when he differed from it. He was a member of the Third Presbyterian Church of Trenton, and an elder in its since 1885. He was a Sunday school superintendent one term, and church trustee for many years. He was also an elder in the Second Dutch Reformed Church at Somerville for several terms, and superintendent of the Sabbath School there many years. He was commissioner to the General Assembly of the Presbyter- ian Church of the United States of Amer- ica from the New Brunswick Presbytery, when held at Portland, Oregon, in May, 1892. In the interests of the Young Men's Christian Association, he was an equally
active worker, being a charter member, and for a number of years president, of the branch at Trenton, the present building be- ing erected during that time.
Mr. Dunham married at Somerville, De- cember 12, 1866, Anna Laura Bergen, who died January 5, 1908. She was the daugh- ter of James and Phebe (Peterson) Ber- gen, and a descendant of Hans Hansen, who came to this country about 1660. He became the owner of large quantities of land along the shores of the Hudson river, the name being perpetuated in Bergen county, Bergen Point, Bergen Heights of Brooklyn, etc. Mr. and Mrs. Dunham had children : 1. Edward Woodruff, a member of the firm of S. P. Dunham & Company, of Trenton ; married Julia Coe Silvers, of Cranbury, New Jersey. 2. James Henry, a Presbyterian clergyman, and pastor at Mount Holly, New Jersey ; married Mary MacMullin Barrows. 3. Mary Potter, mar- ried Francis Vaux Wilson, a member of the well known Philadelphia family of that name, a member of which was Richard Vaux, mayor of the city, and United States Minister to the Court of St. James, his de- scendant, Francis Vaux Wilson, being an artist of note. 4. John Scudder, also a mem- ber of the firm of S. P. Dunham & Com- pany. 5-6. Frederick and Elvie, died in infancy. 7. George Bergen, died at the age of sixteen years.
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