USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume II > Part 5
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ALEXANDER, William Cowper, Lawyer, Insurance Actuary.
William Cowper Alexander was born in Prince Edward county, Virginia, May 20th, 1806, son of Rev. Archibald Alexander, D.D., the first professor in the Princeton Theological Seminary, and of Janetta ( Waddel) Alexander. daughter of Rev. James Waddel, Wirts' "Blind Preacher." He was graduated from Princeton College in 1824. He studied law under Hon. James S. Green, in Princeton, and was admitted to the bar in 1827. He became a leader in the Democratic party. He was a State Senator from 1853 to 1868, and president of that body four years. In 1857 he re- ceived the Democratic nomination for Gov-
ernor, but was defeated, with his party. In 1859 he was chosen president of the Equi- table Life Assurance Society of the United States, and held the position until his death, August 24th, 1874. He was a member from New Jersey of the famous Peace Congress, held in Washington in 1861. La- fayette College, Pennsylvania, conferred the degree of Doctor of Laws upon him in 1860. He was never married.
BROOKS, Noah,
Journalist and Author.
Noah Brooks, one of the most pro- lific and influential writers of his day. was born at Castine, Maine, October 24, 1830, son of Barker and Mar- garet (Perkins) Brooks. His father, a master shipbuilder, was a man of great strength and kindness of character ; and his ancestors, of English origin, were noted for patriotism and public spirit during the Rev- olutionary War. The first American repre- sentative of the paternal line in this country was William Brooks, of Kent, England, a passenger in the ship "Blessing," who land- ed at Scituate, Massachusetts, in 1635. His maternal descent is derived from the Per- kins family of Massachusetts, which has been equally prominent and honorable throughout colonial history.
Noah Brooks was educated in the public schools and the high school of his native town, and at the age of eighteen removed to Boston, Massachusetts, where he began studies with a view to adopting landscape painting as a life calling. In the midst of his artistic studies, however, he developed a strong taste for literature, contributing short sketches, notices, essays, and humor- ous tales to the weekly newspapers and magazines of the day, and by the time he was twenty-one, he was able to earn his living by his pen. He became regularly at- tached to the staff of the "Boston Atlas," a daily newspaper. In 1855 he went west,
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first entering into a mercantile partnership with John G. Brooks, an intimate friend in Dixon, Illinois, and upon its failure migrat- ing with him to Kansas, where he engaged in farming. After a short sojourn in the territory, during which he was actively in- terested in the Free State agitations, lie and Mr. Brooks went to California with a great company of emigrants, crossing the plains with ox-teams, the only available method at that day. In the course of the tedious jour- ney they had many experiences and adven- tures, which were subsequently narrated in some of Mr. Brooks' best tales. Mr. Brooks located in Marysville, Yuba county, where he undertook the publication of the "Daily Appeal" in association with Benjamin P. Avery, afterwards U. S. Minister to China, but in 1862 he sold out his interest and ac- cepted the post of Washington correspon- dent for the "Sacramento Union," the prin- cipal journal of the Pacific coast. At the national capital he renewed his friendship with President Lincoln, whom he had known years before in Illinois, and in 1865 was invited by him to become his private secretary, in place of John G. Nicholay, then recently appointed to the French mis- sion. The offer was accepted, but before the change could be made the President was assassinated. Mr. Brooks was then ap- pointed by President Johnson naval officer of the Port of San Francisco, but was re- moved at the end of eighteen months for refusing to comply with certain political re- quirements of the administration. After his retirement he returned at once to journal- ism, and from 1866 to 1871 was editor of the "Alta California." of San Francisco. He was a regular contributor to the "Over- land Monthly" from its foundation in 1866, and also conducted a semi-monthly juvenile magazine. From 1871 to 1876 he was at- tached to the staff of the "New York Trib- une," most of the time as night editor. then accepted a position with "The Times," which he held for eight years. In 1884 he
became editor of the Newark ( New Jersey ) "Daily Advertiser," but in 1892 retired permanently from journalism. He has since devoted himself to authorship, and during the winter of 1894-5 he made an ex- tensive tour through Egypt, Turkey and the Holy Land. Besides innumerable ar- ticles, reviews and short stories in all the leading American magazines, he has pub- lished "The Boy Emigrants" (1876) ; "The Fairport Nine" ( 1880) : "Our Baseball Club" (1884) ; "Abraham Lincoln, a Bio- graphy for Young People" ( 1888) ; "The Boy Settlers" (1891) ; "American States- men" (1893) ; "Tales of the Maine Coast" ( 1894); "Abraham Lincoln and the Down- fall of American Slavery" (1894) ; "Short Studies in American Party Politics" (1895) ; "How the Republic is Gov- erned" (1895) : "Washington in Lincoln's Time" (1896) : "Mediterranean Trip" (1896) : "History of the United States" (1896) ; and "Story of Marco Polo" ( 1896).
All of Mr. Brooks' stories possess a high degree of imagination and construc- tiveness ; and with a wealth of wholesome incident and adventure, are both amusing and instructive. As a worker he was untir- ing, able to accomplish an enormous amount, and possessed of a remarkably re- tentive memory for facts and details. In his large circle of friends he was known as affable, jolly, and a good story teller, and enjoyed the close friendship of the majority of the public men of his time. He was a founder of the Authors' Club of New York City, and belonged to the Century Club and New England Society. In religious faith he was an orthodox Congregationalist, active in church and charitable work, and held it his greatest privilege to aid many young men to a start in life.
Mr. Brooks was married, in 1856, to Car- oline A., daughter of Oliver Fellows, of Salem, Massachusetts; she died in Marys- ville, California. in 1862. He resided in New York City, spending his summers at
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his country house at Castine, Maine, which with happy humor he christened "The Ark." He died in 1903.
ABBETT, Leon,
Lawyer, Legislator, Governor.
Governor Leon Abbett, a man of dis- tinguished ability, and who has left a marked impress upon the legislation of his State, descended from an English Quaker who emigrated to Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, about the middle of the eigh- teenth century. Ezekiel Abbett, a son of this emigrant, was a prosperous hatter ; he married Sarah M. Howell, of a prominent New Jersey family, and they were the par- ents of Governor Abbett, who was born in Philadelphia, October 8, 1836, and died in Jersey City, December 4, 1884.
He completed his education in the Central High School, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in his seventeenth year. at the head of his class. He studied law under John W. Ashmead, of Philadelphia, and was admitted to the bar in 1858. After practicing for a year in Philadelphia, he re- moved to Hoboken, and was admitted to the bars of New Jersey and New York, and was associated in partnership with William J. A. Fuller, of New York, until the death of last named, in 1889. Mr. Abbett's abil- ity, energy and eloquence gave him great prominence, and he was engaged in many important cases, and was recognized as an authority in cases involving municipal and corporation law.
His brilliant public career had its begin- ning in 1863, when he was elected corpora- tion counsel of Hoboken. A Democrat in politics, in 1864, he was elected to the legis- lature, was re-elected the next year, and in both terms was chairman of the assembly Democratic caucus. In 1866 he removed to Jersey City. and represented the First As- sembly District in the legislature. from 1868 to 1870, being speaker of the house the last two years of his terms. In 1869 he was
president of the Board of Education of Jer- sey City. In 1872 he was a delegate-at- large to the Democratic National Conven- tion at Baltimore, and one of its secretaries, and in 1876 was a delegate to the Demo- cratic National Convention in St. Louis. During this period he was corporation coun- sel for the city of Bayonne, and the town of Union, and subsequently served as such for Jersey City. In 1874, while in Europe, he was nominated for State senator, was elected, served three years and the last year was president of the senate. In 1878 he was elected by Governor McClellan a mem- ber of the commission to draft a general charter for the government of cities, and later Governor Ludlow appointed him to a commission to devise means for a more just method of taxation. In 1883 he was elected governor, and in his inaugural ad- dress he called attention to the inadequacy of the taxation system of the State, whereby railroads were practically exempted from taxation, and urged an immediate remedy ; the legislature passed a law imposing a tax on railroads and other corporations, and the same was upheld by the courts. He forced from the Morris & Essex Railroad Com- pany the surrender of an alleged irreparable contract with the State, exempting the road from taxation, and recovered from it $235,- 000 in back taxes, at the same time induc- ing other railroads to abandon their exemp- tion claims. At his instance the labor laws were wisely amended, and a series of acts passed for the better government of muni- cipalities. In his second term he procured the enactment of a ballot reform law. In 1887 he was the caucus candidate of his party for United States senator, but was defeated, and in 1889 was re-elected gov- ernor. He was chairman of the New Jer- sey delegation to the Democratic National Convention in 1880. He was frequently mentioned as a desirable candidate for the presidency. He died in Jersey City, Decem- ber 4. 1894.
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NAST, Thomas,
Caricaturist, Painter.
Thomas Nast was born in Landau, Ba- varia, September 27, 1840, son of Thomas and Apollonia (Apres) Nast. His father, a musician of ability, for many years held a position in the Bavarian army, but in 1846, having received timely warning of the ap- proach of the revolution which two years later convulsed Europe, he emigrated to America with his family. For some time he was a member of the famous Philhar- monic Society of New York City, appearing frequently in concerts, etc., and was en- gaged at the old Burton Theater, Chambers street. He died in 1856.
The son was educated in the New York public schools, and, displaying a decided talent for art, at the age of fourteen began a six-months' course of study with Theo- dore Kaufman, an artist of some note. He received no other training whatever. and immediately thereafter was employed in taking sketches and furnishing drawings for "Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper." In 1860 he sketched the Heenan-Sayers prize fight in England, for the New York "Il- lustrated News," and soon after went to Italy to follow the army of Garibaldi in the victorious campaign through Sicily and Cal- abria. He contributed numerous battle pic- tures to the illustrated press of New York, London, and Paris; and as an aide on Gen- eral Garibaldi's staff was entrusted with several diplomatic missions of delicacy and importance. He returned to the United States in February, 1861, and continued his work with the "Illustrated News" until he formed a permanent connection with "Har- per's Weekly," in July, 1862. His Italian experience had given him a training in sketching battle scenes such as had been en- joyed by no other American artist ; and his work in this line during the remainder of the war, as well as his numerous pictorial comments on the current situations, wielded a vast influence on the side of the Union,
placing "Harper's Weekly" among the fore- most journals of the day. However, during the period of reconstruction, after the close of the war, Mr. Nast did his most mem- orable and historic work. His peerless pic- torial satires accomplished more against the inevitable corruption in government affairs than all the mass of invective evoked by the trying conditions of the times. From 1870 until 1875 he produced a succession of hum- orous cartoons setting forth the frauds and peculations of William M. Tweed and the "rings" which had seized control of the var- ious departments in New York City; and as a consequence, public opinion was stirred, the matter investigated and the rings broken up. Mr. Nast continued his work for "Harper's Weekly" until the end of 1886, but finding himself unable to support the Republican nominees in 1884. became an ardent upholder of the Cleveland ticket. For several years after 1872, he prepared and published "Nast's Illustrated Almanac" and afterward illustrated the works of Petro- leum V. Nasby and other comic writers, as well as an edition of Robinson Crusoe, and furnished a set of colored caricatures of well known men for "Bal d' Opera." A particular feature of Mr. Nast's work, apart from his wonderful portraits, was the abil- ity to portray the individuality of his sub- jects by some characteristic pose or pecu- liarity of apparel, never leaving any uncer- tainty regarding the object of his satire. Thus, in the rotund figure with the money- . bag face, none could fail to recognize Tweed. The characteristic coat and boots with the famous Gratz Brown tag always revealed Horace Greeley ; and the exagger- ated eye-glasses and lank figure indicated that A. Oakey Hall was taking his turn up- on the rack. Mr. Nast's work in this direc- tion was one of the pioneer efforts in the substitution of the topical cartoon for the "leader" of the old fashioned newspaper. While comparatively few would read and appreciate the latter, the former appealed to all classes. Tweed once remarked that the
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"reading" was of little account, but that it was the pictures that bothered him. A new era in journalism thus began. The spirited drawings with their varied symbolisms and relentless ridicule were a power in moving popular sentiment and compelling a right- ing of wrongs. Among the most noted symbols invented by Mr. Nast were the "Americus" tiger for Tammany, the Repub- lican G. O. P. elephant, the Democratic jackass, the inflationist rag baby, the buz- zard clipped dollar, the bloody shirt of an- archy, and others which have become the common stock of present-day political cari- catures.
As a painter, Mr. Nast produced many works which for beauty of conception and execution hold high rank in American art. His largest painting. "The Departure of the 7th Regiment from New York in 1861," now hangs in the regimental armory ; and among his other notable productions are "Peace Again" ( 1865) ; "Lincoln Entering Richmond" (1868) : "Saving the Flag" (1894) ; "Peace in Union" (nine by twelve feet), now in the public library at Galena, Illinois, (1895) ; "St. Nicholas" ( 1895), now hanging in the St. Nicholas club house, New York City; "Immortal Light of Gen- ius" (1896), painted for Sir Henry Irving. In 1873, 1875 and again in 1888 Mr. Nast made lecturing tours though the United States, accompanying his entertain- ing and witty talks with off-hand sketches and caricatures in colored crayons and in . oil on canvas. In 1892 he conducted a paper known as "Nast's Weekly," started against the New York police and continued for the presidential campaign, which con- tained many of his best efforts of late years. He lived at Morristown, New Jersey, devot- ing most of his time to painting and contrib- uting an occasional cartoon to some illus- trated paper. Socially he enjoyed a wide popularity ; was happy and sanguine in tem- perament, and always ready with some jest or witticism, although at bottom more than ordinarily in earnest. It was the intensity
of his convictions that lent power to his pencil and made him prominent in all mat- ters lie touched. Among the most treasured ornaments in his elegant residence was a splendid silver vase presented to him by the Union League Club of New York City in recognition of his services in the Federal cause ; and another in canteen shape, and with his portrait crowned in relief, presented by 3,500 officers and enlisted men in the United States army and navy. Mr. Nast was enlisted in the 7th Regiment at the time of the Orange riots in 1871, and was for many years a member of the 7th Regiment Veteran Club; also of the Union League since 1867, and of the Players since 1889. He was married. September 20. 1861, to Sarah, daughter of George and Sarah (Leach ) Edwards, of London, England. He died in 1902.
ALLEN, William Frederick,
Distinguished Metrologist.
William Frederick Allen was born in Bordentown, New Jersey, October 9, 1846, son of Colonel Joseph Warner Allen, a civil engineer, State Senator, Deputy Quarter- master-General, and Colonel of the 9th New Jersey Volunteers, who, while serving with his regiment in Burnside's expedition on the coast of North Carolina, 1861-62, was drowned off Hatteras Inlet while endeav- oring to report to the commanding general during the storm, January 13. 1862.
William Frederick Allen attended the Protestant Episcopal Academy in Philadel- phia, Pennsylvania. In 1862. after his father's death, he became a rodman on the Camden & Amboy railroad, and in 1863 was promoted to be assistant engineer. He engaged in several roads then in course of construction in New Jersey, and in 1868 was appointed resident engineer of the West Jersey railroad, and founded the town of Wenonah, New Jersey. On Oc- tober I, 1872, he became assistant editor of the "Travellers' Official Guide," and in
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May, 1873, was made its editor, and busi- ness manager of the National Railway Pub- lication Company, then of Philadelphia, afterwards of New York. In 1875 Mr. Allen was elected permanent secretary of the General Time Convention. composed of the general managers and superintend- ents of the principal railroad trunk lines, which then met to determine upon sched- ules of through trains on the eastern and western railroads. In the following year lie was elected secretary of the Southern Time Convention, consisting of representa- tives of the leading southern railway lines. These conventions were consolidated in 1886, and from them the American Rail- way Association developed, and Mr. Allen became secretary. The adoption of stand- ard time, based upon the Greenwich mer- idian, on a detailed plan proposed by him, was largely due to the efforts of Mr. Allen. By unanimous resolutions of the conven- tions, he was accorded their thanks for the accomplishment of the practical part of the work which was principally done between August 15 and November 18, 1883. The same system was afterwards adopted in Japan, Australia, Germany, Austria, Swed- en, Switzerland, Italy, Belgium, Holland. Roumania, Servia, and part of Turkey, for which purpose a large amount of informa- tion was furnished by Mr. Allen. Mr. Al- len was appointed by President Arthur one of the five delegates to represent the United States at the International Meridian Con- ference held in Washington in October. 1884. Twenty-five nations were repre- sented, and the Greenwich meridian was adopted as the prime meridian and stand- ard time of reckoning. An address de- livered by Mr. Allen on "Standard Time as Adopted in the United States" was re- printed in many languages, with the pro- ceedings of the conference. On April 22, 1890, he was elected an honorary member of the K. K. Geographical Society of Vienna, Austria, in recognition of his ser- vices in the adoption of standard time. He
was selected as one of eight delegates to represent the American Railway Associa- tion at the meeting of the International Railway Congress held in London, Eng- land, in June and July, 1895, at which the railways of thirty-six nations were repre- sented. He was one of the council of the American Metrological Society for intro- ducing the metric system ; a member of the American Economic Society ; of the Amer- ican Society for the Advancement of Science; of the American Academy of Poli- tical and Social Science, and of the Ameri- can Statistical Association.
BURNS, John,
Civilian Hero of Gettysburg.
John Burns, whose courageous but un- military conduct at the famous battle of Gettysburg, in July, 1863, was made the theme of one of Bret Harte's most stirring poetical effusions, was a native of New Jer- sey, born in Burlington, September 5, 1793. In the War of 1812 with Great Britain, he was among the earliest volunteers, and in the battle of Lundy's Lane was of Colonel Miller's regiment, which turned the tide of battle in favor of the Americans. He also served in the Mexican War, but record of his service is not available. In 1861, the opening year of the Civil War period, not- withstanding his extreme age of sixty- eight years, he again volunteered for mili- tary service, but of course was rejected by the examining surgeon. However, lie se- cured an engagement as an army teamster, but when opportunity offered, left his team and went into the ranks, musket in hand. When the Confederate troops reached Get- tysburg, Pennsylvania, in July, 1863, he was a resident of the place, and occupying the position of constable. Asserting his posi- tion as a guardian of the peace, he busied himself with denouncing the invaders and ordering them to leave the place, for which officiousness he was locked up by the Con- federates in his own calaboose. However,
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he managed to release himself, and with a musket and ammunition taken from a wounded soldier, kept up a fire against the enemy during a whole day, only ceas- ing when he received a wound, was made prisoner, and narrowly escaped instant exe- cution as a non-uniformed and civilian com- batant, who had by his conduct forfeited his rights to any consideration. After the restoration of peace, he made his home on the battle field and was made a favorite by visitors, to whom he described the events in which he had participated, and who re- warded him with generous liberality. He was always erratic, possibly illy balanced, and eventually lost his mind. On one oc- casion of mental aberration, he wandered to New York, and one night in December, 1871, was found in the street, almost froz- en. His identity becoming known, he was taken in charge, cared for, and when par- tially recovered was taken to his home in Gettysburg, where he died, February 7, the following year.
RUMSEY, George Benjamin,
Prominent Financier.
Three generations of the Rumseys have been connected with the cashier's depart- ment of the Salem Banking Company, this service beginning in 1842 with George Clark Rumsey, who was cashier until his death in 1851. In course of time his son, Henry Martin Rumsey, came into the bank's ser- vice, becoming cashier in 1881, an office he yet holds. In turn, his son, George B. Rumsey, has maintained a connection with the bank since 1865-the Salem National Banking Company, became assistant to his father, and was holding that office at the time of his death. The record of the first Rumsey was that he was "one of the most efficient officers connected with the insti- tution." Of Henry M. Rumsey it may be recorded that he is in every way a worthy successor to his father, and that he has been a pillar of strength to the institution with
which he has been associated for nearly half a century. Of George B. Rumsey, of the third generation, no eulogy is too glow- ing. He possessed all the graces of mind and personal characteristics of his sires, and in the bank was the constant influence that dispelled clouds and frowns, pouring oil upon the troubled waters that often threatened to destroy friendly relations be- tween bank and customers, his rare tact, unfailing self control, and kindly words re- storing confidence and good feeling. Ster- ling in his integrity, capable in his work. and thoroughly familiar with every detail of modern banking, he was a valued assis- tant to his father, whose increasing years welcomed the strong support of the son's devotion. He literally died in the harness, as but the day previous to his death he had returned from a meeting of the American Bankers' Association at Richmond, Vir- ginia, and the following morning was at his desk in the bank as usual. A few hours later his honorable term of fifteen years service with the bank ended, the last deposit received, the last check paid, and the ac- count closed. Grandfather, father, and son -of these but one remains, Henry M. Rumsey, who, despite his years, is still the able, thorough-going cashier and man of affairs.
George B. Rumsey came of honored an- cestry, his family dating in Salem county, New Jersey, from George C. Rumsey, grandson of Colonel Charles Rumsey, an officer of the Revolution, from Cecil county, Maryland. Colonel Charles was a descend- ant of Charles Rumsey, who came to Amer- ica from Wales in 1665, landing at Charles- ton, South Carolina, later visiting and in- vestigating in New York and Philadelphia, finally, prior to 1678, choosing a location in Cecil county, Maryland, at the head of the Bohemia river. He willed considerable land to his sons, who continued to reside in Cecil county. Edward Rumsey, one of the sons of the founder, was left one hun- dred acres on the river, and his son. James
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