USA > New Jersey > Memorial cyclopedia of New Jersey, Volume III > Part 16
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with that end in view apprenticed him to a dry goods merchant in Philadelphia for the munificent wage of fifty dollars a year. The lad did not, however, take to the idea at all kindly, it being his desire to take up the grocery business instead, and being of an exceptionally determined and persistent nature, he finally over- came his father's objections. These were extremely strong, however, and although he finally allowed his son to have his own way in the matter, it was with many prognostications of failure that the old gentleman gave his consent. However, the young man did not lose heart, but set out with enthusiasm to seek a posi- tion. This was no such difficult matter for the bright, intelligent boy, and he was soon installed in a retail grocery store in the city, where he made himself most valuable to his employers. He developed a remarkable talent for accounts and while still little more than a youth became well known as an expert. With this ability, he found it no great matter to gain advancement in the store where he happened to be employed or to find new and better positions elsewhere. He worked in a number of establishments, among others with the large wholesale firm of Janney & Andrews with the title of "head bookkeeper and financier," and it was while in this employ that his ac- counting became so well known that he was called upon by outside concerns to straighten their accounts and do the gen- eral work that is now done by expert ac- countants. His progress was very rapid from this time on, and in 1874 he left Janney & Andrews to go with Thomas Roberts & Company, also wholesale grocers. He began his association with this concern in the same capacity as that in which he had worked for Janney & Andrews, but before long he was taken into the firm as a partner. This was in
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the year 1875 and for five years thereafter he had a share in the profits of this large and lucrative business. In 1880, however, he severed his connection with this com- pany, and in partnership with Robert Comly founded the firm of Comly & Flanigen, and engaged in a wholesale grocery commission business, and later the firm of Comly, Flanigen & Company was formed. Both these companies flour- ished greatly and Mr. Flanigen continued a partner in both until the time of his death. He was always greatly interested in the welfare of the grocery business in a general sense and did much work to advance its interests in connection with his membership in the Grocers and Im- porters Exchange. He was also a mem- ber of the Philadelphia Bourse, and a prominent figure in the business world of the city generally.
But it was not only in the business world that Mr. Flanigen was a conspicu- ous figure. He was a man of far too wide an outlook on life, of too broad sym- pathies to permit him to rest content with a career devoted wholly to business. He was, on the contrary, deeply interested in many aspects of life, and concerned him- self for the general good of the commu- nity. He was active in the matter of pre- serving the forests of the country and the American Forestry Association. Art and science both offered him delightful sub- jects for study and recreation and he be- longed to a number of associations which existed for their cultivation Among these should be named the Fairmount Park Art Association, the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Zoological Society and the American Civic Association.
The Flanigen family, of which Mr. Flanigen was so distinguished a member, had its origin in the North of Ireland, and was of that extremely enterprising
Irish Protestant class that have made so great an industrial region of the upper portion of the island. On his mother's side he was of Scotch descent, his mater- nal grandmother, Mary Robertson, hav- ing been adopted and brought as a child to America by her aunt, the widow of Colonel Bryce, one of General Washing- ton's aides in the Revolution. Mary Robertson married Robert Adams, a car- penter and builder of Philadelphia. Mr. Flanigen was a Presbyterian in his re- ligious convictions, and during his resi- dence in Philadelphia attended the Cal- vary Church. After coming to Woodbury to live he joined the Presbyterian church there and until his death was active in its interests. For eighteen years, from 1879 to 1897, he was the choirmaster there and greatly enjoyed the work which brought him into constant contact with an art greatly beloved by him. He was a stanch Republican in his political views all his life.
Mr. Flanigen was married, on May 14, 1884, to Julia Pierce Herbert, a daughter of Henry and Cornelia (McMaster) Her- bert. Mr. Herbert was a New Englander of French Huguenot stock who in the latter years of his life moved to Pennsyl- vania and resided upon a farm in the vicinity of Frankford, Pennsylvania. He was a man of considerable means and greatly interested in municipal and edu- "cational matters. He died in 1856, and in 1873 his family moved to Woodbury, New Jersey, where Mr. Flanigen met his future wife, and it was after their marriage that the former came to Woodbury to reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Flanigen were born four children : Jessy, William Herbert, Ruth and Donald.
The death of Mr. Flanigen occurred on April 9, 1915, and was felt as a very real loss by the entire community. It is al- ways difficult, if not impossible, to esti-
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mate the effect upon their environment of such characters as that of Mr. Flani- gen, characters the influence of which de- pends not so much on actual deeds they do, as upon the subtle force which com- municates itself unseen to all about from a strong and gracious personality. But although any actual gauge is difficult we are surely justified in valuing such influ- ence very highly. In Mr. Flanigen's case his tastes and instincts were blended in so fortunate an admixture as to seem pre- destined for the gain and redistribution of knowledge. It would, perhaps, be diffi- cult to say whether art with its more direct emotional appeal, or science, whose voice is for the intellect, ranked higher in his tastes, but certain it is that he loved both and was able to gratify his craving for both extensively. Yet love them as he did, he never allowed them to interfere with the practical duties of life nor with the normal degree of intercourse with his fellows so essential to healthy, whole- some human life. Indeed he never en- joyed himself more thoroughly thian when the dispenser and recipient of those amenities that a man knows only in his own home and in the bosom of his own family. It thus came about that the knowledge and the enlightenment that he gained in his excursions into the realms of experience and of books was again given out to those fortunate enough to meet him in an intimate relationship, and thus directly and indirectly influenced the community in the direction of refine- ment of taste and general culture. His taste in reading led him naturally to many subjects, literary and historic, and in all of these he was well versed. How pure and well-judged, how discriminating were these tastes is well exemplified in his home, which reflects these qualities in every detail. His spirit was essentially youthful and, to the end of his life, he
found in the young most congenial com- panions. If it is difficult to estimate ac- curately the influence for good of such a man, it is at least easy to set it very high.
HALI, Isaac A., Man of Affairs, Philanthropist.
The name of Hall ranks very high in the commercial history of Northern New Jersey, particularly in the silk industry of America. In 1857, Albert Hall, the father of Isaac A. Hall, established in the city of Paterson, New Jersey, what was practi- cally a new industry in the United States, i. e., the manufacture of reeds and harness for silk weaving. He built up and suc- cessfully managed a very large business, continuing actively in it until his death, when his son, Isaac A. Hall, took over the active management of the business. From that time it took rank among the leading industries of New Jersey. Isaac A. Hall expanded that business, skillfully managed it, and constantly enlarged it, until the business became a leader in its line.
His activities covered the planning and erection of large mills for industrial pur- poses and uses, directorships in large and influential corporations, service to his city and State in public capacities of great importance, and service as director of numerous charitable institutions and enterprises. He was likewise active in a social and fraternal way. Repeated efforts were made to have Mr. Hall enter political life, but he absolutely refused to entertain any idea of political perferment, except when induced to serve in some public capacity upon some State commis- sions. Continued and persistent efforts were made to induce him to leave Pater- son and settle at Allentown, Pennsylva- nia, where, after the State of Pennsyl- vania had begun to attract silk manufac-
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turers, he had established large indus- tries. He continued his residence in the city of Paterson, feeling that ties of friendship held him there which far out- weighed any other consideration. He was a social leader in the city, and a prominent member of all of the clubs in and around the vicinity of the city of Paterson and Northern New Jersey. His frank open manner, well-known integrity and honor in all his business dealings, proved him the unusual man and made his life an inspiration to others.
Isaac A. Hall was born in Paterson, New Jersey, October 9, 1860, and died at Roosevelt Hospital, New York, Novem- ber 3, 1915, where he had been taken to undergo treatment. The family came from Staleybridge, England, in the month of September. 1857. and located in the city of Paterson, New Jersey. Albert Hall was very familiar with English mill supplies, and after residing in the city of Paterson for a period of three years, de- cided to undertake the manufacture of reeds and harness for silk weaving. At that time these were not manufactured in America, but extensively imported. He began in a modest way, and through in- dustry became successful, continuing his business until his death, August 4, 1870. His son, Isaac A. Hall, was then but ten years of age.
Isaac A. Hall continued his course in the public schools of Paterson until graduation. For a time after graduation, he took up a business and commercial course at Latimer's Business College. He loved the sea, and yielding to his impulse he took a course upon a training ship. Ilis mother sent him to the training ship "Minnehaha," then after a time he was transferred to the frigate "Constitution," upon which ship he completed his term of service. In the meantime the business founded by his father had been continued,
and upon completion of his career at sea the young man became actively connected with it, and when he attained his majority he was taken into the firm. He immedi- ately showed such business acumen and unusual executive ability that in a few years the others had retired and Isaac A. Hall assumed and took over the entire business. In the month of January, 1883, he re-organized the business, assuming the trade name of I. A. Hall & Company, and immediately undertook operations on a very extensive scale. At about that time the company's factory at No. 18 Division street (now Hamilton avenue), Paterson, New Jersey, was, with its en- tire contents, totally destroyed by fire. Very little insurance had been carried upon the business, consequently the loss was a severe one. Rising promptly to the emergency, Mr. Hall and his mother shortly resumed active operations at the branch, No. 110 Straight street. The partnership with his mother continued until May 6, 1886, when Mr. Hall took over by purchase the interests of his mother, and the business became his sole property. At once larger quarters were obtained in West street, where the busi- ness was continued until 1888, at which time he had completed a large plant on Hamilton avenue, in which plant until his death he conducted the business of I. A. Hall & Company. The specialties which his father had first manufactured in America, together with general weavers' supplies, vast quantities of which were used in weaving in Paterson mills, continued to be manufactured by Mr. Hall in his new plant. and the steady and insistent demand for them furnished a very large shipping business. This demand was not entirely a domestic de- mand. The character and quality of the merchandise and supplies manufactured led to an extensive European business.
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Valuable patents were acquired, and many of the supplies made at his factory could not be obtained elsewhere. He employed several hundred hands. In ad- dition to the manufacture and sale of his own products, lie was sales agent for large French and English mills. The business was of such magnitude that it required most of the time and energy of Mr. Hall. He was a man of splendid fore- sight and anticipating the needs of Pater- son to accommodate small manufacturers in the silk and other textile industries, who were unable to build their plants, he erected large mills to meet this demand, purchased large tracts of land on Fultori and other streets in the territory known as Dean's Hill, in the city of Paterson, and in 1898 he erected for industrial pur- poses the first Hall mill. The instant success of this venture caused him to duplicate that mill, by the erection on the adjoining property of another of the same size and type. These mills instantly be- came popular and have been constantly filled with high class tenants. His suc- cess in this line in Paterson led him to duplicate it in the city of Allentown, Pennsylvania, where his mills were much sought after by the best tenants and his success there was immediate. Time vin- dicated the keenness of his business judg- ment and the clearness of his foresight. The expansion of his business both in the city of Paterson and the city of Allen- town continued, and much of his time had to be spent in the city of Allentown, where he was as well and favorably known as he was in Northern New Jer- sey. Aside from these business activities he served as president of an extensive corporation, manufacturing broad silks in the city of Philadelphia, was president of the Union Transit Company, operating a line of automobiles between Paterson, New Jersey, and Ridgewood, New Jer-
sey ; was vice-president of the Eagle Fire Insurance Company of Newark, New Jer- sey; was an organizer, vice-president and one of the largest stockholders of the German American Trust Company, . one of Paterson's leading banking insti- tutions; was vice-president of the Title Guarantee Land Company ; a director in the Passaic Building Association, and numerous other land companies; a direc- ior of the Clifton Trust Company, the Nassau and Suffolk Lighting Company of Long Island; The Fourth Ward Market Association, and many other interests too numerous to be enumerated herein.
Despite his disinclination for political Honors, Mr. Hall served as commissioner of public instruction, as president of the park commission of the city of Paterson, and as chairman of the most important committees in those commissions. During the administration of John Franklin Fort, as Governor of New Jersey, he served as one of the New Jersey commissioners to the Alaska-Yukon Exposition, giving most valuable advice and service to the commission. He was a director in the Young Men's Christian Association, and a member of the advisory board of the Paterson General Hospital of Paterson, New Jersey, and the Nathan and Miriam Barnert Memorial Hospital of Paterson, New Jersey, was one of the most philan- thropic citizens that Paterson ever had. His charities, however, were quiet and unostentatious, so that few knew of their magnitude. He was keenly interested in boys and young men and particularly in the newsboys of his native city, for whose welfare and advancement he did much. For years he was the host at a Christmas dinner at which all the newsboys and their friends were his guests, and this deserving charity he maintained each Christmas up to the time of his death. One of the handsomest floral pieces at
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the funeral obsequies was contributed by the newsboys, each of whom gave his contribution from his scanty income.
Mr. Hall held all degrees in Masonry, both Scottish and York Rite up to and including the thirty-second. For a time he was an active officer in Ivanhoe Lodge, No. 88, Free and Accepted Masons; he was also one of the most prominent mem- bers of Mecca Temple, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of New York City. Like- wise, he was a member of the Junior Order of American Mechanics, and the most prominent member of Paterson Lodge, No. 60, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In his daily life, he ex- emplified fully the best principles and tenets of these orders. His activity and interest in the order of Elks was most pronounced. Through his most generous liberality, the Paterson Lodge was able to erect one of the finest club houses to be found in the East. His assistance to this home on a substantial basis was very practical and his support of it was very liberal, and his bequests at the time of his death most generous, running into thou- sands of dollars. He was prominent in all associations of silk manufacturers, most particularly in the Silk Association of Paterson, and the Silk Association of America. He was passionately devoted to sports, both outdoor and indoor. He took an active interest in the North Jer- sey Driving and Agricultural Association, the Paterson Cricket Club, the Hibernia Bowling Club, the North Jersey Automo- bile Association, The North Jersey Coun- try Club and the Arcola Country Club. Other club connections were the Lake Hopatcong Club, the Livingston Club at Allentown, Pennsylvania, and while in the City of New York he took active in- terest and was a member of the Lotus and the Knickerbocker clubs. For a num- ber of years he was a staff officer upon
the staff of Brigadier-General Edwin W. Hine, commanding the Second Brigade, New Jersey National Guard, ranking as major. He loved horseback riding and always kept for immediate use one or two very fine mounts.
Mr. Hall's first wife, who was Minnie (Shaw) Hall, died in 1905. He is sur- vived by his second wife, Vaugn (Smith) Hall, formerly of Weatherford, Texas, now residing at the family home, No. 167 Hamilton avenue, Paterson, New Jersey. He was a member and liberal supporter of St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Pater- son, New Jersey.
In the death of Mr. Hall, Paterson lost one of its most prominent and beloved sons. For several years prior to his death he had not been in the best of health. The strain of constant business activity and the pressure and solution of numerous and perplexing business problems finally proved too much. His health gave way under the strain, and he was compelled to resort to the best efforts of specialists to prolong his life. His place in the affec- tions of the multitude comprising the cos- mopolitan population of the city of Pater- son was one that few could attain. He was always foremost in civic service. The question uppermost in his mind always was what was for the best interests of his native city. His popularity through his social and congenial disposition was un- bounded. His ability as an honorable and shrewd business man, ever willing to give service and advice to others, caused his name to become a household word in his native city. The funeral obsequies were conducted from St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Paterson, New Jersey, by the rector, Rev. David Stuart Hamilton, D. D., and interment was made in a magnifi- cent mausoleum erected upon the com- manding site of the Hall plot in the Cedar Lawn Cemetery.
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His estate showed a valuation of more than million and a half dollars, consisting of valuable mills, manufacturing plants, and valuable stocks and bonds. The prin- cipal beneficiary under his will was his widow, Vaugn (Smith) Hall. Other beneficiaries, aside from his many public bequests, were his two sisters, Mrs. Alice Van Gieson, Mrs. Sarah Morehead, and a brother, Thomas W. Hall, all of whom reside in the city of Paterson.
The obituaries published in all the papers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York City at the time of Mr. Hall's death paid deserving and beautiful tribute to his memory. One of the best illustra- tions of this is to be found in the follow- ing extract taken from the "Paterson Press" of November 4, 1915:
A STRONG PILLAR FALLEN.
In the death of Isaac A. Hall, Paterson has lost one of the strongest pillars of its citizen- ship. It may be truthfully said that few men who have been active in the developmental process of this community for the past quarter of a century have borne a more conspicuous, influential and honorable part than the one whose activities have been suddenly stilled by the cold hand of death, while he was still in the zenith of his re- markable powers.
It may with equal truth be said that no man ever lived in our city who was better loved by all classes and conditions of its people than Major Hall. Had he been ambitious for public office there is none within their gift he could not have had. But, while he was constantly ready to act as a servant of the people" when he was called upon, and had often filled responsible public stations always with exemplary fidelity and ability, and while he was one of the most zealous and devoted champions of the political party of which he was a life-long adherent-he stead- fastly declined the numerous appeals which were from time to time made to him to accept nomi- nations for high offices when such acceptance would have meant sure election.
But Major Hall with all his energy and initi- ative was the incarnation of modesty and pre- ferred to confine his activities to a business career and his interest outside of that to the
noble cause of charity and philanthropy. No larger-minded or more generous soul ever graced this city than that which dwelt in the bosom of Isaac A. Hall. And none who have departed this life bearing with them the bene- dictions of an entire city will live longer in the memories of the people of Paterson than the one whom we are now compelled to see carried to his final rest.
KILBURN, Charles Fleming, Estimable Citizen.
In 1632, at Wood Ditton, Cambridge- shire, England, Thomas Kilburn, the founder of the American Kilborne family (also Kilbourn, Kilborne, Kilbon), was warden of St. Mary's parish church. In 1635, at the age of fifty-five, with his wife Frances and five children, he sailed for America in the ship "Increase," and. reaching this country, made settlement at Wethersfield, Connecticut. Ebenezer Kilbourn, of the fourth generation, set- tled in Morris county, New Jersey, where his son, Gershom Kilborn, was born in 1732. Gershom settled in Orange, Essex county, New Jersey, where his son, Jabez Davis Kilburn, was born in 1773 he was the grandfather of Charles Fleming Kil- burn.
Says an English historian: "The dis- covery of the remains of Roman walls and pavements in the vicinity of Kilburn establishes the fact that the region was inhabited long before the Norman con- quest. As the word Kilburn is evidently of Anglo-Saxon origin, it was probably first given as a name to the locality by the Saxon invaders of the Sixth century." The name of Kilbourn, "Cold Stream," is of Anglo-Saxon origin, compounded of "Kil" (a corruption of "cald" or "caeld," cold), and the old English word "bourn," a stream, being applied first to a stream, then to a village situated on the stream, and then to a family derived from the village. The spelling of the name seems
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to have been at the will of the holder, but the Newark branch use the form Kilburn.
The English family bore arms : Argent, a chevron azure, between three bald coots close sable, beaked and legged gules. Crest : A bald coot sable beaked and legged gules. Motto: Vincit veritas.
Thomas Kilborne, the common ances- tor, was born in the parish of Wood Dit- ton, Cambridgeshire, England, in 1578, baptized May 8, 1578, died in Wethers -. field, Connecticut, prior to 1639. He was a member of the Church of England, and served the parish as church warden in 1632. He married Frances who bore him eight children, five of whom accompanied their parents to America : Margaret, aged twenty-three; Lydia, twenty-two; Marie, sixteen; Frances, twelve; John, ten. At the time of the sailing, April 15, 1635. Thomas Kilborne was fifty-five years of age, his wife Fran- ces fifty. They came in the ship "In- crease," Robert Lea, master, and settled in Wethersfield, Connecticut, where the father died not long afterward. His wife Frances survived him until 1650, and at her death left a will disposing of an estate inventoried at f350, including "the house and home lot and twelve acres in the Great Meadow," also "four acres in the West field, two in beaver meadow, and four in mile meadow," and "her land be- yond the river."
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