USA > New Jersey > Scannell's New Jersey first citizens : biographies and portraits of the notable living men and women of New Jersey with informing glimpses into the state's history and affairs, 1919-1920, Vol II > Part 12
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General Collins enlisted as a private at the age of twenty in Company D, 4th Infantry in May, 1888. He was made First Lieutenant of Company E in 1894 and Captain later in the same year. In 1899 he became Major of the 2nd Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel in 1900 and Colonel in 1902. In 1897 he was appointed Brigadier General 2nd Brigade and his appointment as Major General came in 1913. During the Spanish War he was Captain of Company E, 3rd Regiment New Jersey National Guard Volunteer In- fantry, serving until the protocol of Peace was signed, when he resigned and returned home to business.
General Collins is a member of New Jersey Commandery of the Society of Foreign Wars, a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans, of the Naval and Military Order of the Spanish-American War, of the American- Irish Historical Society, of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, of the Knights of Columbus, of the Board of Trade, the Loyal Order of Moose, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and of almost every other fraternal and social organization of the city of Eliza- beth.
GILBERT COLLINS-Jersey City, (312 York St.)-Jurist. Born Stonington Borough, Conn., Aug. 25, 1846; son of Daniel Prentice and Sarah R. Collins; married at Jersey City, 1870, to Harriet Kingsbury Bush, of Jersey City, daughter of John O. Bush. (Mrs. Collins died May 15, 1917).
Children : Walter (died Nov. 11, 1900, age 28 years, a lawyer practicing in Jersey City ) ; Blanche and Marjorie, still living (un- married), and three who died in infancy.
The ancestors of the Collins family went from England to Massa- chusetts, thence to Connecticut before 1710. In that year the great-great- grandfather of Gilbert Collins was born in New London and afterwards moved to the town of Stonington. His son, Daniel Collins, was a Revo- lutionary soldier, being a First Lieutenant in the First Regiment of the Connecticut Line. His son, Gilbert Collins, was prominent in town af- fairs, being frequently a member of the Legislature. These were all farm- ers, but Daniel Prentice Collins, son of the last named. became a manu- facturer and had an extensive business in the borough of Stonington. He was the father of the subject of this sketch. He had also business in- terests in Jersey City.
His death in 1862, leaving but a slender estate, led the son to give up a course at Yale College, where he had matriculated. The family moved
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to Jersey City in 1863. Mr. Collins read law with Jonathan Dixon, then a rising lawyer in Jersey City, and afterwards, till he died in 1906, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the state. Though Mr. Dixon was active in Republican polities, his first appointment to the Bench was given to him by Governor Bedle, a Democrat, and he was re-appointed by two suc- ceeding Democratic Governors, Ludlow and Abbett; two Republican Gov- ernors, Griggs and Murphy re-appointed him later.
The partnership between Mr. Dixon and Mr. Collins was dissolved by Mr. Dixon's appointment to the Bench; and Mr. Collins formed a partner- ship with Chas. L. Corbin, and later with Mr. Corbin's brother, William H., under the firm name of Collins & Corbin. Mr. Chas. L. Corbin had a high reputation among the lawyers, and his brother, William H., became one of the leading public men of the state. The partnership was interrupted by Mr. Collins' appointment to the Bench, but was re-established after his resignation therefrom and was continued till death removed first Charles L. and then William H. The firm continues in the same name with several junior partners, one of them being a son of William H. Cor- bin. It has long been recognized as one of the busiest law firms in New Jersey.
In 1892, Mr. Collins was a delegate to the National Republican Con- vention that re-nominated President Harrison in 1892; in 1912 was a can- didate on the Republican ticket for Presidential Elector-at-Large, and has frequently led forlorn hopes for his party in the Democratic county of Hudson as its candidate for Senator and Congressman, but was not elected to either office. He has declined to permit his name to go before some State Conventions as a candidate for Governor. In 1884 he was nominated on the Republican and Citizens Association's tickets for Mayor of Jersey City. The city had seldom elected a Republican Mayor, but Mr. Collins carried the city by a pronounced majority and conducted a very satis- factory administration of city affairs. While Mayor, he re-asserted the city's right to the South Cove basin, a gift from the state, that, invaded by the American Dock & Improvement Co., was supposed to have been lost by non-acceptance ; and participated, as counsel, subsequently in the liti- gation between the city and the American Dock and Improvement Co. that eventuated in the establishment of the city's claim.
The Mayor, in his professional capacity, acted also as special counsel for various municipalities in the litigations between them and the rail- roads that ensued the passage of the Railroad Tax Act of 1884. Mr. Col- lins had previously been engaged in many important cases that grew out of the confusion as to the interpretation of the Constitutional amendments of 1875. Another important legal controversy in which he took part was one that extended over half a century of time, concerning the zinc mines of Sussex County ; and in the suit brought by the Republican State Sena- tors, elected in the Fall of 1893, to establish their right to seats in the Senate of 1894, when the Democratic "hold-overs" of the "Rump Senate" barred the doors of the Chamber against them. Mr. Collins appeared as counsel for some in the contest that resulted in an opinion seating Senator Rogers of Camden, in the presiding officer's chair.
In 1897 Gov. Griggs nominated Mr. Collins to the State Senate for Justice of the Supreme Court of New Jersey, and the confirmation came
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as a matter of course. When serving on the bench he was an associate with his former partner, Justice Dixon, and the old firm of Dixon & Col- lins seemed to have been re-formed on the Supreme Court Bench. Justice Collins in 1903, a year before the expiration of his term, resigned his seat on the bench, and resumed his law partnership with the brothers Corbin.
While he was upon the bench Justice Collins received the degree of LL. D. from Rutgers College. Among his important decisions were one establishing that an unconstitutional act of legislature was not ipso facto void but might be amended so as to make it constitutional. Another sustained classification of municipalities by their form of incorporations ; and in another ruling that suicide does not vitiate a life insurance policy unless it be specifically stipulated or intent to commit suicide is shown.
Justice Collins is a member of the Union League and Carteret Clubs of Hudson County ; New Jersey Society of the Revolution, of which Society he was for several years one of the Managers, and Lodge of the Temple No. 110, F. & A. M. He is also a Director of the Hudson County National Bank, New Jersey Title Guarantee & Trust Co., Prudential Insurance Co. of America, and the Chapultapec Land Improvement Co., having property in the City of Mexico.
MARY KENDALL LORING COLVIN, (Mrs. Fred H.)-East Orange .- Woman Suffragist. (Photograph published in Vol. 1- 1917). Born in Sterling, Mass .; daughter of Charles H. and Georgianna Porter (Pratt) Loring; married at Sterling, Mass., March 3, 1890, to Fred H. Colvin, son of Henry F. and Harriet Roper Colvin.
Children : Charles, born March 4, 1893; Henry, born March 28, 1898; Roger, born August 31, 1901 (died July 18, 1904).
Mary Kendall Loring Colvin is First Vice President of the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association and is devoting all the time she can spare from her home duties to the promotion of the "Votes-for-Women" Cause. All of her other activities are secondary to that and dependent upon it. In 1915, when the question of woman suffrage was submitted to popular vote in New Jersey. Mrs. Colvin conducted "Schools for Watchers and Workers at the Polls" in every county of the state. She prepared a leaflet bearing instructions for watchers and workers that was so admirable a digest of the election laws as to win the commendation of the Secretary of State. It covered the topics of registration and details as to the method of ap- pointment of watchers, the board of registry, how the voting is done, how canvassed, disposition of the ballot boxes and electioneering. Through these "schools," the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association found it possible to marshal woman watchers at the polls in more than 1600 out of the 1900 polling places in New Jersey. It was noted as' a wonderful show-
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ing, in view of the fact that it was the first campaign the women of New Jersey had undertaken and of the timidity of the women about doing such unusual work.
Mrs. Colvin's Revolutionary and pre-Revolutionary ancestry entitles her to membership in all the societies in which such credentials are ac- cepted. Her great-grandfather was in the battle of Monmouth, in the ranks commanded by Lafayette, where he carried the colors of his regi- ment. He was later made a Lieutenant. Mrs. Colvin was educated in the public schools of Massachusetts, and resided in Philadelphia before she came to make her home in this State twenty-three years ago. She became deeply interested in the movement for woman suffrage, and allied her- self with the New Jersey Woman Suffrage Association.
She has held many offices in this association, which is now entering upon what she believes to be the last stage in its struggle for the ballot for the women of New Jersey.
ROBERT H. COMEY-Wenonah .- Manufacturer. Born at Fox- boro, Mass., Nov. 26th, 1857; son of Henry T. and Mary R. (Luther) Comey ; married at Camden, N. J., April 26th, 1884. to Theresa P. Mellor, daughter of Jonas Mellor and Louise Rebecca Powell of Camden, N. J.
Children. Harry M., born April 25, 1885; Robert Harold, Dec. 28, 1891; Miriam P., Sept. 26, 1886; Henrietta L., Nov. 5, 1888; Paul Van A., July 16, 1898.
Robert H. Comey is of Scotch ancestry. The first of the family to come to America was John Comey, who settled in Massachusetts in 1676, and was killed while fighting with the Indians.
Mr. Comey received his education in the High School of Foxboro, Mass., which he attended from 1876-80, and later graduated from Comers Commercial College, Boston, Mass.
Except for the first twenty-three years of his life, which he spent in his native city and two years' residence in New York, Mr. Comey has lived in New Jersey, coming here and settling at Camden, N. J., in 1882. Present residence at Wenonah, N. J., since 1909. Mr. Comey today is President of the R. H. Comey Company, straw hat material dyer and bleacher, manufacturing concern which has plants at Brooklyn, N. Y., Camden, N. J., Chicago, Ill., Toronto, Canada, and Amherst, Mass., em- ploying a capital of over $2,000,000, and possessing the largest plants and equipment in the world of its kind.
He is also director in the National State Bank of Camden, N. J .. and is a member of the Managers Board; Cooper Hospital. Camden, N. J., and director and Vice President of the Camden, Y. M. C. A., President of Wenonah Y. M. C. A., Director New Jersey Conference Camp Meeting
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Association, Pitman, N. J.' Mr. Comey is a life member of the Manufac- turers Club of Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Comey's business address is Jefferson Ave., Camden, N. J.
SAMUEL PANCOAST COMLY - Woodbury. -- Rear Admiral. Born Woodbury, July 13, 1849; ( Deceased April 10, 1918; see Vol. 1-1917.) son of Nathan Folwell and Mary ( Wood) Comly ; mar- ried at Woodbury on Dec. 17, 1884, to Lawra L. Carpenter ; 2nd on Aug. 14, 1895, to Mrs. Hannah L. Hamlin of Woodbury, daugh- ter of James C. and Charlotte Hillman Pancoast.
FILLMORE CONDIT-Essex Falls .- Publisher. Born at Rose- land, N. J., on Sept. 4, 1855; son of Stephen J. and Catherine Laffan) Condit; married at Newark, N. J., on March 30, 1881, to Ida F. Rafter, daughter of P. H. and Hannah (Hoyt) Rafter.
Children. Mrs. Clarence H. Robinson, born 1882; Mrs. H. Rae Simonson, 1885; and Donald, in 1900.
Fillmore Condit, records show, is one of the descendants of John Condit, or "Conduit" (as the family name was then spelled), who im- migrated from England in 1678, and settled in Newark, N. J. In the family since that time there have been various distinguished members, among whom were. Dr. John Condit, who served in the Revolution as a soldier and surgeon and later in the United States Senate and House of Representatives for thirty years, and Silas Condit, who made a name for himself as a banker, legislator and Congressman, and Rev. Ira Condit, who was one of the founders of Rutger's College in New Jersey.
The subject of this sketch, began the first employment of his life on his father's farm in Roseland, Essex County, and received his first train- ing in commerce at the village store. Later he secured a position in a saw mill, but left this to enter the meat business. In 1879, at the age of twenty-four, Mr. Condit invented and manufactured an article of hard- ware, and at the same time carried on a meat and provision business. His activities were later extended to the real estate business on a large scale, operating in East Orange, Arlington, Verona and Belleville, N. J.
In 1890 he made his home at Verona, and soon took active part in civic affairs of that place. During his residence here, he presented a small park to the town, and served on the Essex County Board of Free- holders.
Then he moved temporarily to California in 1899, for one year, where he obtained his first interest and experience in the oil industry, with which he is now closely associated. He returned to New Jersey in 1901 and since then has had charge of the Eastern District of the Union Oil Co. of California.
Since 1911 he has been a resident of Essex Fells, for more than thirty years Mr. Condit has been connected with the Hospital for Women and Children at Newark, as govenor and president, and he has also been an active member of long standing in the Verona M. E. Church.
In 1883 he became interested in the Anti-Saloon movement and served
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as an investigator, writer and speaker. His pamphlet, "The Relation of Saloons to Insanity," written in 1911, has been widely circulated.
At present Mr. Condit is chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Saloon League, Vice President of the New Jersey League and head of the American Issue Publishing Company.
Mr. Condit's business address is Union Oil Co. of California, White- hall Bldg., 17 Battery Pl., New York City.
JAMES C. CONNOLLY-Elizabeth, (150 Park Place) .- Law- yer. Born in Belleville, Essex County, on February 19, 1859; son of Michael and Bridget Connolly ; married at Elizabeth, on June 22, 1892, to Katharine R. Flanagan, daughter of Thomas J. and Katherine Flanagan.
Children : James Cavanagh, Jr .; Carroll, Katharine, Franklin, John Marshall, Edward and Livingston, all born in Elizabeth. N. J.
With the exception of his babyhood, which was spent in the town of his birth, Belleville, Essex County, N. J., James C. Connolly has resided all his life in Elizabeth, N. J., where he has built a reputation as a lawyer. On February 17, 1887, he was admitted to the bar of New Jersey, and in 1886 was elected to the Elizabeth City Council and served with that body from 1887 till 1890. In the following year he was chosen to the City Attorneyship, and held the office with the exception of six years until March 15, 1913. He served as President of the Union County Bar Asso- ciation from 1910 to 1914, and has made a compilation of laws governing the City of Elizabeth, including the City Charter. He has also written on historical subjects.
The most important and distinguished office Mr. Connolly has held was that of judge of the Common Pleas for Union County. He was ap- pointed by Governor Wilson, now President of the United States, and filled the position from February 11, 1913, to April 1, 1918.
Mr. Connolly's business address is 120 Broad St., Elizabeth, N. J.
MELVILLE THURSTON COOK-New Brunswick. (212 Law- rence Ave.)-Plant Pathalogist. (Photograph published in Vol. 1 -1917). Born at Coffeen, Ill., September 20th, 1869; son of Wil- liam Harvey and Elizabeth Frances (Robinson) Cook; married at Flat Rock, Ill., on September 8th, 1897, to Dora Reavill Cook, daughter of Andrew J. and Martha A. (Seany) Reavill.
Children : Harvey Reavill, born Aug. 20, 1901: Harold Thurs- ton, born Nov. 15, 1903: Elizabeth, born July 20. 1906.
Melville T. Cook has been since 1911, Professor of Plant Pathology in Rutger's College and Plant Pathalogist at the New Jersey Agricultural Ex- periment Station at New Brunswick. His father is a physician in Illinois and he studied in the public schools of Illinois and in the preparatory school at Greencastle, Ind. He was for three years in DePauw University,
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Greencastle, and one year in Leland Stanford, Jr., University, graduating with the A. B. degree in 1894. He did graduate work in the Marine Biologi- cal Laboratory at Woods Hall, Mass., Ohio Lake Laboratory at Sandusky, Ohio, the University of Chicago and the Ohio State University. He re- ceived the A. M. degree from DePauw University in 1902 and Ph. D. de- gree from Ohio State University in 1904.
Dr. Cook was Principal of the High School at Vandalia, Ill., 1894-5; Professor of Biology at DePauw University 1895-1904; Special Lecturer on comparative anatomy in the Central College of Physicians and Surgeons, Indianapolis, 1902-3 ; Special lecturer in Human Embryology in the Medi- cal College of Indiana, Indianapolis, 1903-4; Chief of the Department of Plant Pathology and Economic Entomology, in the Estacion Central Agro- nomica, Santiago de las Vegas, Cuba, 1904-1906 ; and was Plant Pathologist in the Delaware Agricultural Experiment Station at Newark, Del., from 1907 till in 1911 he became Professor of Plant Patology in Rutgers College and Plant Pathologist in the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.
Dr. Cook is a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Secretary of Sec. G. ( Botany) : Indiana Academy of Science, Botanical Society of America, member of the American Phytopathological Society (President), National Institute of Social Sciences, American Association of Economic Entomologists, Entomological Society of America, American Society of Naturalists, Ecological Society of America, New Brunswick Scientific Society (President), Delta Upsilon Fraternity, Sigma XI, Phi Beta Kappa and a 32nd degree Mason, Knight Templar and member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
He is also the author of "Diseases of Tropical Plants" and a large number of contributions of technical botanical journals and agricultural experiment station bulletins.
HOWARD M. COOPER-Camden, (106 Market St.)-Lawyer. (Photograph published in Vol. 1-1917). Born in Camden, June 24, 1844; son of John and Mary M. (Kaighm) Cooper; married at Philadelphia, Pa .. April 22, 1884. to Lucy Smyth, daughter of William C. and Emily B. Smyth, of Philadelphia, Pa.
Children : Emily Cooper Jolinson, wife of Edwin J. Johnson, of Philadelphia.
Howard M. Cooper is a graduate of Harverford College, Pennsylvania. He came out with the class of 1864 and the college has since conferred the A. M. degree upon him. He studied law in the office of Peter L. Voorhees and was admitted to the bar as an attorney in 1867 and as a counselor in 1870. He has been President of the Camden County Bar Association since 1905, was a member of the New Jersey State Board of Bar Examiners from 1902 to 1912 and is a member of the American Bar Association and of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In 1885, when the Camden National Bank was incorporated he was made a Director, and its solicitor, . and has held both positions to the present time. He was a member of the State Library Commission from 1906 to 1913 and has been a Trustee of the Camden Free Library since its organization in 1898.
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Besides being a practicing lawyer in Camden, Mr. Cooper has locat repute as the author of a "Historical Sketch of Camden," published in 1909. He is also deeply interested in movements for the amelioration of the condition of the unfortunates in his part of the state. He has been President of the West Jersey Orphanage for Destitute Colored Children from 1883 to date and is President of the Camden City Dispensary, and of the Camden Society for the Prevention & Relief of Poverty.
JOHNSTON CORNISH -Washington .- Manufacturer. Born in Washington (N. J.) in 1860; son of Joseph B. Cornish.
Johnston Cornish is President of the Cornish Co., manufacturers of organs and pianos, at Washington, Warren County, and has been recog- nized for many years as one of che dominating factors in middle-state Democratic politics. His father before him, had been a leader in the politics of Warren county and served it in the State Senates of 1873, '74 and '75. Mr. Cornish was therefore schooled in public affairs at his home table; and, soon after reaching majority became active in them. He was Mayor of Washington at twenty-seven, and was twice re-elected, the third time without opposition. He has served three separated terms in the State Senate.
He had not attained the age of thirty required by the State Consti- tution as a qualification for a State Senator when he was first elected; but, a birthday following between election day and the time for his taking his seat, he was able to meet the age requirement when the Senate of 1891 organized, and he served till the middle of the year 1893. Just before the expiration of his term, the Democrats of the Fourth District named him as their candidate for Congress, and he served in the 53rd Congress 1893-'95. He retired from politics to attend to business, but was drawn into the swim again in 1899 to serve the county as Senator for another term. He gave way in 1902 to Dr. Barber; but in 1905 he was drafted into the service again, and, nominated, carried twenty of the twenty-eight election districts in the county and served in the State Senate in 1906, '7 and '8. Senator Cornish had been a member of the Democratic State Com- mittee, a delegate to many State Conventions for the nomination of can- didates for Governor and Delegate to several of the Democratic National Conventions.
Upon leaving school, Mr. Cornish engaged in the piano and organ making business with his father, who had founded it, and was taken into partnership with him. The business was subsequently incorporated as the Cornish Co., and he was made its Secretary and Treasurer. Upon the death of Joseph B. Cornish Congressman Cornish succeeded to the Presi- dency, as well as President of the First National Bank.
HENRY ANDREW'S COTTON-Trenton, (State Hospital, Tren- ton) .- Physician. Born at Norfolk, Va., May 18, 1876; son of
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George Adolphus and Mary Delha (Biggs) Cotton : married at Baltimore, Md., Sept. 26th, 1903, to Alice Delha Keys, daughter of Wilson and Mary A. Gessford Keys.
Children : Henry A., Jr., Oct. 15th, 1907 ; Adolph, Nov. 2, 1909.
Dr. Cotton is a lineal descendant of John Cotton, a magistrate in North Carolina during Colonial times, and of Nathan Mayo, a member of legislature during the Revolution, and also Capt. Isiah Cotton, who served in that war.
Most of Dr. Cotton's early education was obtained, and the founda- tion for his future success in the medical world laid in Baltimore, Md. Here he attended the public schools, and later the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute, from which he was graduated in 1894. After this, he attended the Johns Hopkins University for one year and then entered the Univer- sity of Maryland, where he received a diploma in the medical course in 1899. Years later, in 1914, the educational institution conferred on him a Master of Arts degree.
Virtually ever since his graduation from college Dr. Cotton has en- gaged himself in the study of mental diseases, on which subject he is now considered an expert. To round out his experience in this field he did special work in pathology of the brain for one year at the Royal Psychiat- ric Clinic at Munich and while still an extensive contributor to litera- ture of mental diseases, he was able in 1900 to take up duties as an associate of the Worcester State Hospital of Mass. This position he left in 1903 to take up duties in the Denvers State Hospital of Massachusetts and with which institution he was connected until 1907. After that date he accepted a medical directorship in the New Jersey State Hospital for the Insane, and which he now holds.
Perhaps the most important of his life's work, however, has been done during the past two years, when he attracted the attention of the medical world by advancing the principle that mental diseases are the result of bacterial infection and the resulting toxic poisoning. This theory to a great extent has revolutionized the treatment of mental diseases, and many cases formerly considered incurable are now restored to reason. In 1916 he was appointed Lecturer in Psycho-Pathology at Princeton Uni- versity and still holds that position.
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