USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume III > Part 14
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(IX) Roelof Schenck, elder son of Martin Schenck, was born in 1619, at Amersfoort, Holland, and came to Amer- ica in 1650 with his brother and sister, settling in Flatlands, Long Island. He resided for a time in Brooklyn, and re- moved about 1660 to Amersfoort (Flat- lands), where he died in 1704. He re- ceived a grant of twenty-three morgens of land there, January 29, 1661. He sub- sequently purchased two hundred acres and also bought of his brother one-half of the mill subsequently known as "Crookes Mill." He was one of the grantees in the confirmatory patent issued by Governor Nicolls, October 4. 1667. He was a magistrate in 1664, and was deputy to the council held in the city hall at New Amsterdam, March 26. 1674. He was appointed schepen, August 16, 1676, and elected lieutenant of the local
militia, October 25 of the same year. In 1687 he subscribed to the oath of allegi- ance to the British government, was com- missioned December 12, 1689, a justice for King's county, and held this office in 1693. He was commissioned captain of a company of horse for King's county, January 13, 1690. On a valuation of property made in September, 1676, he was credited with personal estate valued at £152 14s. including five horses, six- teen head of cattle and three swine, and also with fifty-two morgens of land valued at £104, making a total of £256 14s-a large valuation in that day. Only one estate in the town was assessed at greater value, and in 1681 his was the highest in value in the town. In 1691 he possessed four slaves.
He married (first) in 1660, Neeltje (Nelly), daughter of Gerret Wolfertson Van Kowenhoven. She was baptized September 20, 1641, in Flatlands, and died about 1673. He married (second) in 1675, Annatje, daughter of Peter Clausen Wyckoff, and (third) November 19, 1688, Catherine Crigers, widow of Stoffel Hooj- land. His first wife was a granddaughter of Wolfert Gerretsen Van Kowenhoven, who came from Amersfoort, Holland, in 1630, and died in 1661. His wife bore the name of Neeltje, and their son, Ger- ret, born 1610, died 1645. His wife, Altje Cornelisse, was a daughter of Cornelis Lambertsen Pool, of Gowanus, Long Island, and they were the parents of Neeltje, wife of Martin Roelof Schenck. Children: Martin, born June 22, 1661 ; Annatje, about 1663; Jannetje, about 1665; Marike, February 14, 1667; Jan, March 1, 1670; Gerret, October 27, 1671, died young. Children of second wife: Margaret, mentioned below; Neeltje ; Marvken and Gerret.
(X) Margaret Roelofse Schenck, daugh- ter of Roelof Schenck and child of his
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second wife, Annatje Wyckoff, became the wife of Cornelius Willemse Conover, of Middletown, New Jersey (see Con- over IV).
HEDDEN, Viner Jones,
Contracting Builder, Public Official.
The name of Hedden, Hodden and Hoddon is of ancient origin and has many corruptions such as: Headen, Hledde, Hedin, Headden, and Heady. The name is distinctly English although we find it in Scotland, Ireland and Wales. That they fought in the crusades is evidenced by the crescent on the armorial bearings. 'The coat-of-arms is described as follows : Quarterly first and fourth, argent a saltire engraved sable. Second, argent a saltire engraved between four roses, gules. Third, or, a bend chequy argent and sable. In the center over the quarter- ings is a crescent argent. Crest: An eagle erased or. 'Motto: "Suffer." An engraving in colors of these arms is now in possession of Mrs. Julia (Hedden) Worthington, of New York City.
(I) Jared (or Gerard) Hadden was born in England about 1608, and probably came in the fleet with Winthrop, as he is mentioned among the first hundred men of the Boston church admitted prior to any second arrival of freemen, May 14, 1634. His first settlement was at Cam- bridge in 1632, where he was made a freeman; he owned a house and three acres; was a tailor and planter; was a proprietor of Salisbury, Massachusetts, in 1640, receiving land in the first di- vision, and was among those who moved to the west side of the Powow in 1644; was a commoner and taxed in 1650; one of the first settlers in Amesbury, 1654-55, receiving land there, 1654-64; received a seat in the meeting house, 1667, a mem- ber of the Salisbury church, 1677-87; re- ceived "children's land" in Amesbury for
a daughter, 1659, and a "township" for a daughter, 1660; was a selectman in 1680; died at Amesbury, 1689, leaving several children.
(II) Edward Hedden, possibly a son of Jared or Gerard Hadden, was born in 1660. He married Jane Jones, a Welsh girl, and they settled at the "Mountain," South Orange, New Jersey, where they received grants of land. Jane Hedden, born 1668, was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, at Newark, prior to the formation of the "Mountain So- ciety," and is interred in the burial ground of the church on Broad street, having died February 23, 1773. Children : John, Joseph, of further mention; Eleazer ; Oliver; Diana; Rebecca. The Heddens owned much land, the sons being the possessors of tracts later known as the !ledden tracts at South Orange, at the "Mountain," near Luddington brook and Rahway river, where Edward and Jane Hedden lived and died.
(III) Joseph Hedden, son of Edward and Jane (Jones) Hedden, was born at Newark, New Jersey, 1702, and died in that part of the town, now Orange, No- vember 3, 1798. In association with his brother John he owned lands at the "Mountain," where he settled. At vari- ous times he sold portions of this land. On the death of Joseph Hedden the "Cen- tennial of Freedom," of Newark, said: "This venerable citizen has from his youth sustained the character of an honest and upright man and was much lamented by those who were acquainted with him. He had thirteen children, one hundred and seventy-six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren." He was wont to speak with pride of the fact that he had eight sons who served their coun- try during the Revolution. ("Shaw's History," page 38.) He is buried beside his wife, Rebecca, both having been mem- bers in full communion of the "Moun-
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tain Society," prior to 1756. He married (first) Rebecca Dod, born 1703, died May 14, 1745, daughter of Daniel and Eliza- beth (Riggs) Dod, and granddaughter of Stephen Dod, of Guilford, Connecticut. He married (second) Rebecca, daughter of Matthew and Ruth (Wheeler) Wil- liams. Children: Ebenezer, David, Eli- jah, Job, Simon, Martha, Phebe, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Joseph, Jr., Jonathan, of fur- ther mention; Sarah, Joanna.
(IV) Jonathan Hedden, son of Joseph and Rebecca (Dod) Hedden, was born in that part of Newark, now South Orange, New Jersey, 1733, died near the present Burnet street, East Orange, December 25,
1795. He was a young lad when he learned the tailor's trade, which he fol- lowed many years. He prospered in his calling, amassed a competence, and pur- chased the property through which Bur- net street now runs. He and his brothers all served through the Revolutionary War. After the Revolution he was one of the incorporators of the Second Pres- byterian Church of Newark (Brick Church of Orange); he became one of the seven trustees and was duly qualified before Judge Peck at the parsonage house, September 22, 1776, each trustee taking the Oath of Allegiance to his coun- try. He was elected president of this body in the fall of the year, and filled this office many years. He married Phebe, daughter of Joseph and Phebe (Free- man) Canfield, and had: Caleb, Daniel, Abial, of further mention ; Jotham, Mary, Rebecca, Deborah.
(V) Abial Hedden, son of Jonathan and Phebe (Canfield) Hedden, was born in what is now East Orange, New Jersey, July 11, 1767, and died at Orange, New Jersey, later East Orange, September 24. 1841. In early life he learned the trade of stone cutting, which he followed in connection with farming, all his life. Some of his work was done in the con- tory income. He was fond of his gun and
struction of the forts of Castle Garden and Lafayette, at New York harbor. He was also the village undertaker. He was one of the prosperous farmers of the sec- tion, owning about twenty-five acres in East Orange, from Main street almost to Central avenue; when Burnet street was cut through this property, his homestead was moved back so that it faces Burnet street now, near the railroad. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, and was a Whig. He married, September 23, 1790, a first cousin, Mrs. Betsey (Hed- den) Sayre, whose first husband, Samuel Sayre, a soldier of the Revolution, had left her a widow at the age of twenty years with three children : John Low and Catherine, twins; and Margaret. Chil- dren: Phebe, Margaret, Uzal W., Caleb, Sarah Low, Elijah, Samuel Sayre, of fur- ther mention; Betsy Joanna, died in in- fancy ; Abial, Jr .; Betsey Joanna.
(VI) Samuel Sayre Hedden, son of Abial and Betsey (Hedden-Sayre) Hed- den, was born on the Hedden homestead in East Orange, New Jersey, August 24, 1803, died September 20, 1876, on Hedden place. He was reared on the homestead farm, attending the district school during the winter months. In early manhood he was apprenticed to Cyrus Jones to learn the hatter's trade. Not long after his marriage he purchased a farm of ten acres, which he cultivated with the as- sistance of his sons. His homestead was the first beyond the "Meadow Brook," a good stream then with fine fish. He also followed the trade of hatter, working for Cyrus Jones, whose shop was near Munn avenue. He also worked for the Stetson Hat Company and other factories at Orange and East Orange. After 1858 he abandoned the hat trade and devoted him- self to the cultivation of his farm. This was cultivated along the most advanced and scientific ideas, and netted a satisfac-
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his dog, and an excellent shot ; he hunted ior the New York market, and during the season supplied the most famous New York hotels with game. His farm, which he deeded to his children in equal por- tions before his death, has now been largely cut up and sold. He was retiring in lris habits, an avid reader of the daily papers, and devoted to his home and chil- dren. For a time he attended the Baptist church of East Orange, then the Rose- ville Presbyterian Church. He was a staunch Democrat, and served in the Orange militia. He married Mary Ann Cochran, born at East Orange, December 6, 1806, died February 26, 1877, daughter of James and Sarah (Wright) Cochran, and granddaughter of John and Elizabeth ( Peck) Cochran, who came from Scot- land, the former being a weaver by trade. Children : Viner Jones, died young ; Sarah Elizabeth; Viner Jones, subject of this sketch; Harriet Marvin; Mary Olivia ; George Washington ; Albert Emmet, whose sketch follows: Alonzo S .; Sam- uel Clinton.
(VII) Viner Jones Hedden, son of Samuel Sayre and Mary Ann (Cochran) ledden, was born at East Orange, New Jersey, on the homestead of his father and grandfather, July 29, 1827, and died September 11, 1914. He acquired his ele- mentary education at the district school on the Orange road, now Main street, be- tween Munn and Maple avenues, and then studied at the private school conducted by Dr. Wicks at Newark, attending there four terms. At the age of eighteen years he was apprenticed to William Whitte- more, to remain with him until he had at- tained his majority, in order to learn the trade of carpenter, and later worked as a journeyman for Baldwin & Hedden. Mr. IIedden of that firm being a cousin, Min- ard Hedden, a son of Uzal W. Hedden. About 1850 Mr. Hedden, with Joseph J. Meeker, formed a partnership under the
firm name of Meeker & Hedden, with quarters where V. J. Hedden & Sons Company was later located, at the time it was dissolved. The firm was later changed to V. J. Hedden & Sons, Mr. Hedden being in business at the above location for more than sixty years. Among the many notable buildings they erected were the Trader's Bank, Toronto, Canada ; the New Jersey State Asylum, at Morris Plains; the New York Produce Exchange; the. Metropolitan Building, New York City ; Taft Hotel, New Haven, Connecticut ; all the Prudential buildings in Newark, New Jersey; the new Court House, Newark; American Insurance Building, Newark; Young Women's Christian Association Building, Newark; and numerous important buildings in many other cities. In earlier years they erected many fine private residences on Fifth avenue, New York City, but in later years the business was more occupied with large contracts for office buildings. When Mr. Meeker died in 1884, Mr. Hed- den admitted his three sons-Charles R., Samuel S. and Louis O .- as equal part- ners, continuing as V. J. Hedden & Sons. They manufactured every variety of in- terior finish and later became general contractors. June 1, 1896, the business was incorporated under New Jersey laws, as V. J. Hedden & Sons Company, the officers being : Viner J. Hedden, president and treasurer; Charles R. Hedden, first vice-president ; Louis O. Hedden, second vice-president ; Samuel S. Hedden, secre- tary. Charles R. Hedden withdrew in 1907, and Louis O. Hedden became first vice-president. They became general contractors and builders in 1890, and in addition to the buildings above mentioned they erected the Mutual Benefit Life In- surance Company's building, Newark ; Howard Savings Bank; American Insur- ance Company's building; many of the station buildings on the Morris & Essex
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Division of the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad; and did much of the work in this line for the Central Rail- road of New Jersey. The firm had one of the most finely equipped plants in the country and made a specialty of interior finish from the most costly woods.
In his political views Mr. Hedden was an Independent on general principles, and served his city as a member of the Com- mon Council although he had never sought political preferment. He was a member of the East Orange Baptist Church, and one of its most liberal sup-
porters. He was a member of the Newark Board of Trade, His fraternal affiliations were as follows: One of the four oldest members of Northern Lodge, No. 25, Free and Accepted Masons; Harmony Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Cain Council, Royal and Select Masters; Da- mascus Commandery, Knights Tempiar, Newark.
Mr. Hedden married at Newark, May 21, 1851, Elvira Vader Meeker, born June 8, 1832, died April 26, 1907, daughter of Caleb Halsey and Hannah Meeker. Children: I. Charles Rohrbach, born March 25, 1852; married, June 17, 1874, Martha Havell, born July 9, 1853, daughter of Henry and Mary Etta (Devoe) Havell; children : Etta and Lillian. 2. Samuel Sayre, born September 1, 1854; married, September 13, 1876, Emma Jane Coles, born April 4, 1856, daughter of Jacob Lorenzo and Sarah (Morningstern) Coles; children : i. Viner Jacob, born June 2, 1878; married, October 3, 1906, Florence McMullen, daughter of Henry A. and Ella Matilda (Mertz) McMullen, and has children : Jane Matilda, Viner Jacob, Eugenia. ii. Edith Carrie, born August 29, 1882. iii. Daisy Madeline, born August 30, 1888. 3. Abbie Ward, born July 4, 1857; married, May 21, 1879, Edwin James Meeker, born June 11, 1853, son of Edwin L. and Pa-
melia (James) Meeker; children : i. Her- bert James, born February 21, 1879; mar- ried, December 2, 1905, Pearl Brewster ; child: Doris, born February 13, 1908. ii. Evelyn Eugenia, born August 1, 1881, died September 24, 1884. iii. Harold Ernest, born March 31, 1883. iv. Edwin William, born November 20, 1885. v. Norman Hedden, born May 10, 1888. vi. Dorothy, born September 22, 1895. 4. Louis Oscar, born July 19, 1859; married, July 2, 1884, Mabel Campbell Stevenson, born July 6, 1852, daughter of George Washington and Susan Emeline (Tomp- kins) Stevenson; children: i. Myra Mc- Kay, born May 3, 1886; married Lewis Ferry. ii. Donald Stevenson, born June 4, 1895. 5. Eugene Bleything, born May II, 1862; married Harriet S. Harrison ; three children. 6. Emma Louise, born April 8. 1865; married, June 18, 1890, Louis Edwin McCoy. born January 22. 1861, son of Nathaniel Drake and Jane (White) McCoy; children: i. Louis Eu- gene, born April 30, 1893, died May 9, 1893. ii. Ralph Hedden, born August 26, 1895, died August 26, 1895. iii. Robert Graves, born April 26, 1899. iv. Donald Edwin, born August 20, 1902. 7. Minnie E., born October 15, 1867, died January 22, 1870. 8. Alonzo Brown, born Sep- tember 13, 1869; married, February 24. 1897, Sadie Elizabeth Van Houten, daughter of Edgar W. and Emma (Bales) Van Houghton ; child, Doris, born April 2, 1905, died April 10, 1905. 9. Minnie Elmira, born September 15. 1871; mar- ried, April 12, 1893, Claude E. Lanter- man, born May 11, 1869, son of William G. and Jane Hall (Adams) Lanterman : children : i. Helen Blanche, born Septem- ber 21, 1895. ii. and iii. William Gerald and Geraldine Hedden, twins, born May 31, 1905. 10. Alice, born April 11, 1879. died April 3, 1908.
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HEDDEN, Albert Emmet, Artistic Wood Worker.
Albert Emmet Hedden, son of Samuel Sayre and Mary Ann (Cochran) Hedden, was born on his father's homestead, Hed- den place. then known as the old road to Orange, May 4, 1841, and died in March, 1915. He attended the district school up to the age of sixteen years, afterward Bryant & Stratton's College at Indian- apolis, Indiana, from which he was gradu- ated. He then served a four years' ap- prenticeship at the carpenter's trade with Meeker & Hedden, at Newark, with whom he was associated as a journeyman three years, then foreman, and later as super- intendent of the entire plant, his entire association with the Hedden Company. which has been described at length in the preceding paragraphs, extending over a period of more than fifty-five years.
From early childhood he had been a close student and lover of nature, study- ing the woods and fields, and became an expert in the judgment of timber. He made a study of the various kinds of woods for their comparative values for building purposes, and had an especial admiration for the higher grades of woods for interior decoration, his knowledge be- ing valued as an expert in the matter of veneers and all kinds of precious woods. His taste was refined, and he designed, and had made up many exquisite hand- carved pieces of furniture, which showed the true artist's appreciation both in the design and in the selection of the woods of which they were fashioned. Favorites with him were mahogany and native apple. He was constantly consulted by leading architects, as an authority to be relied on as to the proper woods and tim- ber to be utilized in order to obtain the best results, not alone as to safety and durability, but so as to obtain the best
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possible artistic effects. He was also rated as an authority on birds and plants, and in his later years made a study of ferns, gathering and cultivating numerous varieties. All of his time not demanded by his business duties was devoted to nature study in many directions. He col- lected butterflies and beetles; spent a great deal of time in the woods and fields, gathering and "sliding" plants and flowers; was a constant reader on these subjects, and in close touch with the best authorities on them.
In political matters Mr. Hedden pre- ferred to form his opinions independently, and when they were formed, he had the courage of his convictions. His religious affiliation was with the Roseville Metho- dist Episcopal Church, in which he served as a steward for a number of years. His home was on Hedden place, East Orange, where he had erected a fine residence in 1875. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having first joined St. Albans Lodge, No. 68, Free and Accepted Ma- sons, later became a charter member of Hope Lodge, of East Orange, from which he was demitted and joined Northern Lodge, No. 25, of Newark. He was a member of Harmony Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Newark, in whose interests he was active.
Mr. Hedden married (first) Harriet Garland, daughter of Robert and Jean- nette (Thompson) Young, the former a hat finisher. He married (second) March 18, 1875, Mary E. Rittenhouse, born May 5, 1840, died August 9, 1905, a daughter of Abner and Frances (Snyder) Ritten- house, the former a cooper and farmer. Only child by the first marriage: Robert Emmet; children by second marriage : Anna Mary, born April 19, 1876; Mabel, born August 20, 1877; married Harry Peck Havell, and has children: Harriet Mabel, born July 30, 1912, and Robert
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Emmet, born May 2, 1914; Albert Her- mann, born July 23, 1881, is an engineer and a designer of iron work for buildings ; married, June 17, 1908, Daisy D. Hunt, and has: Elizabeth Ann, born May 10, 1912, and Albert Emmet, born May 22, 1915.
KENYON, David Randolph, Manufacturer, Inventor.
Ready when the Master called, Mr. Kenyon slowly sank under the attacks of heart disease and closed his earthly ca- reer, May 16, 1901. A prominent manu- facturer of Raritan, New Jersey, he was moreover an exemplary man in all his relations with life. He possessed sterling qualities of character, was an influential citizen, always taking an interest in every enterprise that tended towards the pros- perity of Raritan. He was ever ready to extend help to the needy and sympathy to those in distress. He was a son of Palmer Kenyon, one of the first settlers of Raritan, New Jersey, there being but seven houses there when Mr. Kenyon came from Belvidere to Raritan.
He was a grandnephew of the founder of Kenyon College, Ohio, and paternally was a descendant of the New York branch of the Kenyon family, a second cousin of Congressman Kenyon of that State. Ma- ternally he descended from Stephen Crane who, with a company of one hundred and thirteen, bought and repaired the ship "Caledonia" at their own expense and came to America from England to escape persecution. The "Caledonia" was wrecked off Amboy, New Jersey, but all reached shore in safety. They were among the first settlers of Elizabeth, New Jersey, and there and in Newark many of the descendants still reside.
David Randolph Kenyon was born at Belvidere, New Jersey, October 30, 1836.
died at Raritan, New Jersey, May 16, 1901. After gaining an education he learned the machinist's trade in the machine shops founded by his father and then operated by the Kenyon estate. After learning his trade he worked in Brooklyn, New York, becoming an expert worker in steel and becoming thoroughly familiar with the designing and building of machinery. Shortly after the Civil War he formed a partnership with his brother, J. C. Ken- yon, and engaged in the manufacture of machinery. About 1876 they began the manufacture of textile and finishing ma- chinery, also made the New York meat chopper, a patented device invented by David R. Kenyon, a machine which had a world wide sale and is yet on the mar- ket .. The plant of the company was located at Raritan, New Jersey, and in addition to the manufacture of machinery used in woolen manufacture, Mr. Kenyon made many valuable improvements in that class of machinery which have been introduced into the factories of Massa- chusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey and Ohio, while his patented machines are in use in almost every coun- try of the world. A most valuable im- provement was a machine for the manu- facture of chinchilla cloth, the new ma- chine making all the various grades of that cloth. He also patented a cloth dry- ing machine which is very valuable to the manufacturers.
In 1895 the firm of D. R. Kenyon & . Son was formed, Mr. Kenyon continuing the active head until his death in 1901. The business is still continued by the son, C. C. Kenyon, the products of the mill be- ing shipped all over the world, largely. however, in the United States and Canada. Mr. Kenyon was president of the Raritan Savings Bank, president of the Bridge- water school board, member of the board of county commissioners, member of the
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Manufacturers' Club of Philadelphia. member of Somerville Lodge, No. 46, Free and Accepted Masons, and of the Second Reformed Church of Somerville, New Jersey. For several years he served as committeeman, but refused all other offers of political preferment although often importuned.
Mr. Kenyon married, December 2, 1863, Mary Elizabeth Carhart, of Clinton, New Jersey. Their children are: 1. Minnie M., widow of Henry P. Vanderveer, now a resident of Somerville, New Jersey. 2. Angeline D., an artist in oils ; she studied her art at the School of Industrial Arts, Philadelphia, and in the Metropolitan Mu- seum of Art in New York City and has gained success as an artist. 3. Charles C., of the firm of D. R. Kenyon & Son ; is a graduate of Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, New Jersey, class of 1894, partner with his father from 1895 to 1901 ; at the time of death of his father he became sole owner of the business; ex-mayor of Somerville, New Jersey ; member of Manufacturers' Club of Phil- adelphia; and member of the Masonic order.
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