USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 47
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Charles E. Young, son of John and Cath- erine (Tuttle) Young, was born in Whip- pany, Morris county, New Jersey, February 19. 1816. and died in Newark, in 1898, one
his day. He began business life as a dry goods merchant, later associating with his father in leather manufacture. He devel- oped the business and made their Morocco department the most important in the city. He was a potent factor in the organization of many financial and commercial enter- prises, including the National State Bank and the Newark board of trade. He mar- ried Charlotte Wilbur, daughter of Rodney and Charlotte (Denman) Wilbur, of New ark, and maternal granddaughter of Mat- thias Denman. Dr. Charles Young, eldest son of Charles E. Young, was one of New- ark's most eminent physicians and surgeons for forty years prior to his retirement.
Henry Young, second son of Charles E. and Charlotte (Wilbur) Young, was born October 24, 1844, and died at his Newark home, 1078 South Broad street, March 30, 1908. He early developed rare mental qual- ities, passing through preparatory schools and entering Princeton University at the age of fifteen years, as a member of the sophomore class. He completed a full course and was graduated with honor, class of "62" but his youth prevented his receiv- ing his degree until arriving at the age of "-twenty-one, three years later. After leav- ing Princeton he prepared for the profes- sion of law under Frederick Theodore Fre- linghuysen, of Newark, and at Harvard Law School. He was admitted to the New Jer- sey bar as an attorney in 1865 and as coun- sellor in 1868. In 1867 he was appointed Assistant United States District Attorney, and in 1873 was elected city counsel by the Newark common council. Such was the value placed upon his legal services by the city fathers that he served in that' office by successive reappointments until IS84. This was a period of distrust, defalcation and partisan dispute in Newark, and fortunate indeed was the city to have had so efficient and capable a head of the law department. He bore himself with such absolute impar- tiality, was so just. honorable and courage-
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ous, that he stood in public estimation as !! « most capable counsel the city or State had ever possessed. From 1884 until 1903 Mr. Young was engaged in private practice in Newark, but in 1903 he accepted at the hands of Mayor Doremus, a reappointment >> city counsel. He served until 1904, then :osigned to accept from Governor Murphy, the position of Prosecutor of Pleas for Es- wx county. Four years later his earthly career ended.
Mr. Young was learned in the law, es- pecially of municipalities and the relation they bore to New Jersey law. He was sought for in consultation and his opinions were of great weight. His high position at the New Jersey bar was fairly won and un- disputed by his brethren of the profession, who acknowledged his intellectual attain- ment, legal learning and personal graces. He was a member of many legal bodies, includ- ing the bar association of his own State and the Lawyers' Club of Newark. His friends - to tender his services in support of all right- were many among all classes and at his fun- eral, the highest men in the State vied with the lowly to do him honor. Chief Justice Gummere, Vice Chancellor Emery, Gover- nor Murphy, Frederick Frelinghuysen, Jay Newton Van Ness, Oscar Keen, Cortlandt Parker, Jr., J. O. Pitney and George W. Hubbell were pall bearers, and in the thronged North Reformed Church sat many men distinguished in State and Nation.
Mr. Young was one of the governors of the Essex Club, and a member of the North Reformed Church of Newark. In both or- ganizations he took a deep interest, and in both he was deeply beloved and highly es- teemed. His courtesy was unfailing, his devotion to every duty, supreme, his kindly friendliness never wanting, and his prin- ciple, lofty. He was a man of real worth to his city, a tower of strength as an advo- cate and a friend who never failed.
Mr. Young married Margaret, daughter of James K. and Mary (Kellogg) Hitch- cock, of Utica, New York. Children : Henry (2), a prominent lawyer of Newark ;
Stuart Adams, also an honored member of the Essex county bar; Roger, a business man of Newark.
ROPES, David Nichols,
Enterprising Citizen, Public Official.
During a career of signal activity and use- fulness, the late David Nichols Ropes did much to further the industrial, civic and economic progress of the State of New Jer- sey, and his influence in promoting the var- ious affairs of the community honored by his residence was both potent and farreach- ing. He stood as a type of the steadfast, honest, honorable and upright business man and loyal and public spirited citizen, and his fine intellectual powers materially increased his usefulness and prestige as one of the noble workers of the world. The entire course of his life was dominated by the same high sense of duty that prompted him
eous causes, and he maintained an inviolable hold upon the respect and esteem of all who knew him. A man of firm convictions, broad minded, keen and distinct individual- ity, he made his life count for good in all its relations, and it is most appropriate that a tribute of some length be paid him in this memorial volume. He was a descendant of English and Huguenot stock which can be traced for a number of generations. Ac- cording to Burke's "Landed Gentry," the original spelling of the name was Roope, and we find the pedigree entered in the Col- lege of Arms, October II. 1600, as follows : Arms : Argent, a lion, rampant, per fesse. gules and vert, between seven pheons, azure. Crest : A cock pheasant, combed and wat- tled gules. Motto: Nulla rosa sine spinnis.
George Ropes, the immigrant ancestor of David Nichols Ropes, came to America prior to 1636, according to the records of the General Court, in the employ of Mr. Gar- ford. He was litigant in a lawsuit in 1637. After his term of indenture with Mr. Gar- ford had expired, he returned to England
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in 1638 and was to have twenty acres of land upon his return to America. He was a carpenter by trade. His wife, Mary, was admitted to Salem church, May 15, 1642, prior to which year he had returned there, and died in June, 1670, in that town. His widow died in 1691. Children: George, Jonathan, Sarah, Mary, John, William, Abi- gail and Samuel. George was killed in King Philip's War.
John Ropes, son of George and Mary Ropes, was baptized at Salem, Massachu- setts, July 4, 1647. He bought land at Newbury in 1702, and later other tracts, and his son, Nathan, was appointed ad- ministrator of his estate July 19, 1722. He married, March 25, 1669, Lydia Wells. Children, born at Salem: Benjamin, Lydia, Mary, John, Samuel, Elizabeth and Na- thaniel.
Samuel Ropes, son of John and Lydia (Wells) Ropes, was born at Salem, Janu- ary 24, 1686-87, and died October 12, 1761. He married, January 12, 1709-10, Lydia Neal, daughter of Joseph and Judith (Croad) Neal. Children, born at Salem : Lydia, Lydia (second), Samuel, Joseph and Benjamin.
Benjamin Ropes, son of Samuel and Ly- dia (Neal) Ropes, was born at Salem, March 22, 1721-22, and died April 20, 1790. He was a cooper, lived in Salem, and owned much land there. He was a mem- ber of Dr. Whittaker's church, afterward of Dr. Hopkin's church, of which he was deacon. He married, March 27, 1746, Ruth Hardy, who died in December, 1795; she was a daughter of Joseph and Sarah (Pick- ering) Hardy; great-granddaughter of Lieutenant John and Alice (Flint) (Bul- lock) Pickering; and great-great-grand- daughter of John Pickering, tlie immigrant ancestor from England.
Timothy Ropes, son of Benjamin and Ruth (Hardy) Ropes, was born in Salem, April 9, 1773, and died February 17, 1848. He was a cooper and later a master ma- riner. Together with his brother, Hardy,
he bought the homestead property from the other heirs for the sum of two thou- sand dollars, later purchasing Hardy's share from him for $1,333, and thus be- came the sole proprietor. He married Sarah Delhonde, born September 15, 1775, a daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Holmes) Delhonde. Thomas Delhonde was a prom- inent physician of Boston in his day. . His father, Dr. John Delhonde, was born in France, and being of the Protestant de- nomination, was obliged to flee that coun- try to avoid religious persecution after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes. He emi- grated to America and made his home in Boston. Mr. and Mrs. Ropes had several children.
David Nichols Ropes, son of Timothy and Sarah (Delhonde) Ropes, was born in Salem, Massachusetts, December 5, 1814, and died in Orange, New Jersey, July 23, 1889. His education was mainly ac- quired in the town of his birth, where he attended the academy and the high school. He was but sixteen years of age when he entered upon what proved in the course of years to be an unusually active business ca- reer. His first venture was in the crockery business in Salem, where, in association with his brother, Timothy, he opened a small store. Close attention to their bus- iness enabled them to gain a large amount of experience, and two years later he with his brother George went to Portland. Maine, where in 1832, they became the first manufacturers of table cutlery in the United States, the actual work being done in Saccarappa, Maine. They were the in- ventors and patentees of American table knives. Until they were burned out some years later, they carried on this industry very successfully. After this event, Mr. Ropes went to Meriden, Connecticut, and there entered into a business association with Julius Pratt, the firm operating under tlie style of Pratt, Ropes, Webb & Com- pany, thiis being the forerunner of the Mer- iden Cutlery Company, whose products be-
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came known throughout the civilized world. The interests of the company re- quiring a man of ability in New York City, Mr. Ropes assumed charge there in 1855. He became practically interested in the In- dia Rubber Comb Company about 1862, was subsequently elected to the vice-presi- dency, and was one of the largest stock- holders. After coming to New York for business reasons, Mr. Ropes selected Newark as a place of residence, but after a few months, removed to Orange, New Jersey, in October, 1855, and lived in that section until his lamented death. The fol- lowing spring he bought a house and lot at the corner of High and White streets, en- larged and improved the house, purchased a quantity of adjoining land, and made this dwelling his home until 1888. Some of the tracts he purchased were on Park avenue, Washington and Day streets, Valley Road, and other sections. He opened streets through the lands he purchased in all direc- tions, and extended High street to Park avenue. He made many improvements on his property, divided it into building lots, erected attractive houses, and assisted ma- terially in the development of the Oranges. The amount he spent in grading his prop- erty, alone amounted to more than $100,- 000. In the matter of transportation facil- ities he was one of the leading spirits of the section, and instituted many new ideas. His property was crossed by the Watch- ung railroad, which ran through it from southwest to northeast, and it was distinct- ly through the personal efforts and the per- sonal financial support of Mr. Ropes that this road was constructed. The original charter had been obtained for a horse rail- road, but as changing conditions made a steam road a necessity, a supplement was added to the charter, enabling the word horse to be eliminated, and a steam road was commenced as a branch of the Mont- clair railroad. This last mentioned com- pany became bankrupt before the comple- tion of the new branch, and Mr. Ropes. accepted.
with his usual energy and business fore- sight, assumed the greater part of the re- sponsibility of finishing the Watchung branch. For a long time the conduct of this work and its later operation resulted only in pecuniary loss to Mr. Ropes, un- til it became a feeder for the Erie Road. In order to secure a right of way for this branch it was necessary for him to make many additional purchases of land, and these added to the property already in his possession made him an extensive land owner. Everything he did was done on a most generous scale; he graded the streets he cut through, curbed, and often flagged them, then deeded them to the city. He sold many of his lots at a profit, and could have sold many more in the same manner, had he not added too many re- strictions in his deeds. During 1860 and 1870, when the values were very high, he made many of these purchases, and found it necessary to carry mortgages on a large quantity of the property. When the panic of 1873 caused such widespread disaster, Mr. Ropes was obliged to part with much of his property under foreclosure proceed- ings, the greater part of his fortune being lost in this manner. With the little prop- erty he managed to retain he continued business for a time in New York, then opened a real estate office in Orange, and there disposed of the property he still owned to the best advantage. In 1877 the city of Orange, with a view of obtaining a supply of water for public use, caused six driven wells to be opened north of Park avenue and near the West Orange line, these being on the property of Mr. Ropes. The supply of water was apparently inex- haustible and analysis by Professor Leeds. of Stevens Institute of Technology, showed it to be equal to spring water, and free from all impurities. Mr. Ropes submitted the matter to the West Orange Township Committee, October 12, 1887, but this val- uable and excellent water supply was not
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In political belief Mr. Ropes was a strong Charles Franklin, born December 10, 1847, Abolitionist, and while a resident of Port- died in 1889. He married in California, and had two children: Eleanor and Ger- trude. 2. Clara, born 1850, who has also been president of the Board of Managers of the East Orange Homeopathic Dispen- sary, married, in 1874, Professor Charles Jenkins Prescott, born in 1832, died Sep- tember 20, 1902, a descendant of James Prescott, of Hampton Falls, New Hamp- shire, 1643, who came to this country from Lincolnshire, England. 3. John Bisbee, deceased. 4. Albert Barrett, deceased. 5. Edith, deceased. 6. Arthur Dudley. Mrs. Prescott has one son: Standish, born in Orange, April 25, 1875, is in the Engineer- ing Department of the New York Central Railroad Company; he is unmarried and makes his home with his mother in Orange. land, Maine, his house was known as being one of the stations of the "underground railroad," used so frequently by the escap- ing slaves. In 1856 he was one of the origi- nators of the Republican party in Orange, and was prominent in the Lincoln campaign. He was a leading spirit in securing the in- corporation of the city of Orange, and was radically opposed to the separation of East and West Orange from the city proper. In 1864 he was elected mayor of Orange, was re-elected the following year, and was a member of the common council as a repre- sentative from the Second Ward from 1866 to 1872, inclusive. While serving in these offices he displayed a devotion to the inter- ests of the community which earned for him the commendation of political foe as well as friend. The cause of education always found in him a warm and strong supporter, and he was one of the three trustees ap- pointed under the "Central" School Dis- trict, in April, 1862, at which time an at- tempt was made to consolidate all the schools of the Ashland, Central and St. Mark's districts into one. His efforts to in- crease the efficiency of the schools in his jurisdiction finally resulted in the separa- tion of West Orange and its erection as a township. He was one of the founders of The New England Society, of Orange, and served as president, vice-president, and counsellor of this body. His nature was a strong one, but it was one rather of action than of words. At an early day he was a member of the New Church Society (Swed- enborgian), but at first while living at Orange he attended the Orange Valley Con- gregational Church. He was of a generous and kindly nature, and his charities were frequent and widespread, but bestowed, wherever this was possible, in a quiet and unostentatious manner.
Mr. Ropes married, October 6, 1846, Lydia L. Bisbee. Mr. and Mrs. Ropes were the parents of children as follows : I.
Mrs. Lydia Laurelia (Bisbee) Ropes, wife of David Nichols Ropes, always a con- tributor to the various philanthropic in- stitutions of the Oranges and one of the founders of many of them, was born in Hartford, Connecticut, August 10, 1826, daughter of Rev. John Bisbee, of Plymp- ton, Massachusetts, who was a lineal de- scendant of Miles Standish, and also of John and Priscilla (Mullins) Alden, and of his wife, Mercy B. Bisbee, who after the death of Rev. John Bisbee became the wife of Captain Daniel Jackson, of Plymouth. and later she became one of the first woman physicians of Homeopathy in the United States.
After the removal of Mr. and Mrs. Ropes to Orange, New Jersey, in 1855, she at once became one of the leading workers in all good movements among the women of the Oranges. She was one of the fifteen charter members of the Woman's Club of Orange, organized in 1872, and it was large- ly through her personality and those as- sociated with her that the club grew into its present usefulness. She occupied the office of president in the club from 1876 to 1884. inclusive, and held the confidence and re- spect of the members during that time, as
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she did during all the years of her life, and her administration was one of the most prosperous. She wrote a history of the club for the Chicago Exposition covering the twenty-one years since its organization. This was most fortunate as immediately after, all the club papers were destroyed by fire. She was interested in and supported both morally and financially, the work of the Orange Bureau of Associated Charities from its incorporation in 1884, and through her generosity five hundred dollars was set aside by the bureau as the nucleus for a permanent fund to teach Household Econ- omy to the families dealt with by the So- ciety, or for any purpose for which the or- ganization may wish to use it. She was one of the directors of the first Even- ing School established in Orange before the Young Men's Christian Association was organized and which was carried on two winters under the auspices of the Woman's Club. She was president of the Homeo- pathic Hospital, and when this was dis- banded the Homeopathic Dispensary was opened with the same Board of Governors. She was president of the dispensary for many years and remained on the board until her death. She was also an honorary member of the Board of Managers of the Essex County Homeopathic Hospital, in which she took a keen interest. By donating a piece of property to be used as a site or to be sold and the proceeds to be used for a fund for a public bath, she assisted ma- terially in establishing that institution, which has proven to be a source of benefit and recreation to many people. Mrs. Ropes was a charter member of the New Church (Swedenborgian) of Orange, joining in 1866, and was a regular attendant at the services, taking an active interest in the work of the various societies connected therewith.
Mrs. Ropes died March 21, 1910, at thie home of her daughter, Mrs. Clara Prescott, with whom she had lived for twenty-three years, aged eighty-four years. Mrs. Ropes
was a firm friend, generous and staunch, and a loving and tender wife and mother. Thus she lived, and thus she died, always actuated by a spirit of love and duty and commanding the respect and esteem of all with whom she came in contact during her active and useful career. Always progres- sive and ready to help any cause which looked forward to the uplift of humanity, she will be remembered in years to come, . as she has been in the past, not alone be- cause of her activity in the philanthropies of the Oranges, but for her deep and friend- ly interest in everyone with whom she as- sociated. Almost her last words were: "I did not know I had so many friends," show- ing thus she had forgotten or was uncon- scious how many she had befriended.
The high esteem in which Mr. Ropes was universally held was partly evidenced by the well nigh innumerable letters of condolence, resolutions, editorials, etc., which appeared at the time of his death, but the limits of this memoir will permit us to reproduce but one example of them. It is a minute entered upon the records of the New England So- ciety, and reads as follows :
"Few men have lived and died among us leav- ing a record of a purer and more useful life than our late associate and friend Mr. David N. Ropes. Born in New England of the best Puritan blood and tracing his lineage back to the Hugue- nots of France, he was just such a man as the union of all that was noble and good in these two great forces of the Reformation might be ex- pected to produce. Elements of character derived from both, made him the well balanced man he was, uniting with the stern integrity of the one. the gentleness of the other in all those acts of life which endeared him so signally to all who came within the sphere of his influence and knew him but to honor and respect. Born in 1814. in the old City of Salem. Mass .. just as the present century was entering upon its stupendous prog- ress in all avenues of man's activities and re- ceiving the education of the common school and academy, he early left the paternal roof to enter upon the rough ways of life and battle, as thou- sands of the brave boys of New England have done for fortune, reputation and usefulness to his fellow men. Carrying with him the early im- planted principles of honesty and integrity into
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an active life he could not be other than he was, the energetic man of business, the uncompromis- ing advocate of the right, the friend of the slave, the foe of injustice, the helper of the needy and the wise counsellor in matters of public policy and public welfare.
"In the organization of this Society he was from the first a trusted counsellor, for several years Vice-President, and for two years our worthy and respected President. In all its activi- ties he bore an efficient part and from his intimate knowledge of the wants of our vicinity, he gave most important aid and counsel to those plans and efforts of this Society on behalf of the public welfare which have done so much to beautify our neighborhood and render it, as it is, the delightful home of an enlightened and pros- perous people.
"His efforts in the practical realization and accomplishment of many of the improvements we now enjoy, may be best appreciated by our daily experiences and need not be here enumerated. While we recall with tenderest sympathy the financial embarrassment that in the great re- vulsion fell upon him without fault on his part and from circumstances beyond his control or human knowledge to forsee, we cannot but admire the fortitude, the manliness and Christian spirit with which he met them and labored and toiled, oftentimes against hope, to protect the rights and interests of those whose confidence he had shared in brighter days. It may be said truly of him, that in all the relations of public and private life, he acted well his part, and departing left behind him a reputation for uprightness, honesty and charity, unsullied by a blemish to mar his character or lessen our respect.
" 'He was a man More apt through inborn gentleness to err In giving mercy's tide too free a course, Than with a thrifty and illiberal hand To circumscribe its channel.' "
PIERSON, William, M. D.,
Physician, Surgeon, Model Citizen.
Among those who have attained distinct prestige in the practice of medicine and surgery in the State of New Jersey, and whose success came as the logical sequence of thoroughi technical information and nat- ural predilection, and that sympathy and tact which are an absolute essential in the profession, was Dr. William Pierson, late of Orange, New Jersey, whose family was
represented in the medical profession for a number of successive generations. His family is one of the old ones of the State, and a few words concerning the earlier generations are not out of place here.
Thomas Pierson Sr. came with the Branford settlers of Newark in 1666, and was one of the signers of the "Funda- mental Agreement." He had a number of parcels of land granted him, and was a weaver by trade. In his will, dated 1698, he names children : Samuel, Thomas, Han- nah, Abigail, Elizabeth and Mary; son, Sam. Lyon.
Samuel Pierson, eldest child of Thomas Sr. and Maria (Harrison) Pierson, was born in Branford, Connecticut, in 1663, and was three years of age when brought by his parents to Newark. Doubtless he removed with his father to Watsessing some years later. He was a carpenter by trade, and took up a tract of land between the First and Second Mountains, being one of the first settlers there. The first men- tion of his name is as one of the organizers of the Mountain Society, and he was a dea- con and one of the leaders in this organi- zation. He died March 19, 1730, and is buried in the "old graveyard." He married Mary Harrison, daughter of his uncle, Ser- geant Richard Harrison. Children : Joseph, Samuel, James, Caleb, Jemima, Mary, Han- nah.
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