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 57

Author: Sackett, William Edgar, 1848- ed; Scannell, John James, 1884- ed
Publication date: 1917
Publisher: Patterson, N.J. : J.J. Scannell
Number of Pages: 1454


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 57


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Walcott


and elected to fill the unexpired term of one year. He was re-elected for the three succeeding terms making an uninterrupted service of twelve years in the Legislature -- two in the House of Assembly and ten in the Senate. This record of election six successive times has hardly, if ever been equalled in this State."


During his term in the Senate he was Floor Leader, President of the Senate, and on several occasions, Acting Governor. To enumerate the principal events of Senator Wakelee's career at Trenton would nessitate a recital of practically all the important legislative proceedings during the terms of Governors, Voorhees, Murphy, Stokes and Fort. He drafted many important laws, and because of his long experience he was and still is con- sulted upon important matters of legislation. He led the fight for the pre- servation of the Palisades, securing the enactment of legislation which re- sulted in the establishment of the Palisades Interstate Park, and was a strong supporter of the plan to bridge or tunnel the Hudson River. The great number of laws for which he was primarily responsible, or instru- mental in having passed, renders it impossible to mention more. Senator Wakelee was early made a member of the Republican State Committee. served for a long time as its Vice Chairman, and for several years as Chairmain. He is still active in state republican party affairs.


When Mr. Wakelee came to Bergen county its population was less than 50,000 and it had few improvements. He took a keen interest in all phases of its growth and progress and through his efforts the country secured its first state roads. He was active in the organization of the New Jersey and Hudson River Railway and Ferry Company, which operates street railway lines from Edgewater to Newark. Paterson and Englewood, and of the Riverside and Fort Lee Ferry Company, which operates a ferry from New York City to Edgewater. He was General Counsel for these companies until they were taken over by the Public Service Corporation of New Jersey. The Palisades Trust & Guaranty Company, of which he is counsel and Trust Officer. was organized by Mr. Wakelee, as were the Rockland Electric Company of Bergen County, and the Registrar and Transfer Company of New Jersey and New York, in which he is still ac- tively interested.


In 1911 Mr. Wakelee was made Attorney for the Public Service Corpo- ration of New Jersey ; in 1914 he was appointed Associate General Solici- tor, and in 1917 was elected Vice President and Director and a member of the Executive Committee of the Corporation and all of its affiliated com- panies.


Senator Wakelee is a member of the New York Athletic, the Railroad and the Republican Clubs of New York, the Union League Club of Hacken- sack, the Knickerbocker Country Club, the Englewood, and Englewood Field Clubs. Hackensack Lodge No. 658 B. P. O. Elks, Junior Order of United American Mechanics, Delta Upsilon and Phi Delta Phi fraternities, Alpine Lodge No. 77 F. & A. M., and of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite N. M. J. U. S. A. Valley of Jersey City.


HARRY MILLS WALCOTT-Rutherford .- Artist and Painter. (Photograph published in Vol. 1, 1917.) Born in Torringford, Conn.,


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Walcott


July 16, 1870; son of Dana Mills and Elizabeth Billings Walcott; married June 1, 1905, to Anabel Havens of Newark, Ohio.


Mr. Walcott is of English and Dutch descent. An English coat-of-arms traces the lineage of the Billings and Walcott families. His father was a clergyman, descendant of a branch of the noted Walcott family that settled in and around Boston, Mass. His mother was from Providence, R. I.


Mr. Walcott came to Rutherford in his infancy with his father. At as early an age as ten, he won a prize in the public school for the best draw- ing. After graduation from the Rutherford High School, he entered a law office ; but his longing to become an artist overcame him and for the recompense that provided means for his art studies, he accepted a position in a wholesale house in New York City. The reward for his labors there was summary discharge for devoting more time to his drawings than to his work. This was the needed impetus to a stronger determination to abandon all thoughts of a business life and to devote himself wholly to art and he attached himself to the school of the National Academy of De- sign on 23rd Street, New York City. After four years there, he won the Henry O. Havemeyer scholarship that carried with it a travel to Europe for the pursuit of his studies. Before sailing, he had some products of his pencil accepted by among others "Harpers," "Century," "Scribners" and "MeClure's" magazines. He spent six years from September, 1895, in Paris studying painting in the art schools, making incidental trips through France, England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, Italy and Spain to study masterpieces. During this time Mr. Walcott was honored at the Paris Salon.


In Paris Mr. Walcott was Chairman of the American Art Association, and formed the acquaintance of the leading artists of France. Returning to America in 1901 he established his studio in New York City. At the Society of American Artists he exhibited a figure composition he had executed in Europe and was awarded the Shaw Purchase Fund Prize. The canvas is in Samuel T. Shaw's collection in New York. In 1902 he won the first Hall- garten prize at the National Academy Exposition with a picture now in Miss Ellen Stone's collection and was elected an Associate of the National Academy. In 1904 the Clerk prize at the National Academy for the best figure composition came to him in a competition open to all American artists. Another of his works, exhibited and honored at the Carnegie In- stitute, was purchased by Henry C. Frick. The Daniel G. Ried Purchase Fund prize was his next capture. Silver medals were awarded to him at the Pan-American Exposition, the St. Louis International Exposition and the Panama Pacific Internation Exposition.


The motive of Mr. Walcott's work has always been out-of-door figure composition and he is most widely known for children out-of-door pictures. But he made occasional excursions into portrait painting fields, and his brush has put on canvas the portraits of, among others, the Presidents of The Ohio State University and of Ohio Wesleyan University.


Mr. Walcott's wife, who is scarcely less noted among women artists than her husband among the men, was an art student at the time Mr. Walcott was prosecuting his studies. She also was studying, exhibiting and traveling in Europe when the two met.


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Waldron


Besides exhibiting constantly in the galleries of the leading cities, Mr. Walcott has taught fully five thousand pupils in drawing and painting from life and in composition.


EDWARD M. WALDRON-Newark, (207 Market Street.)- Builder. Born in Ireland, November 1, 1864; son of William J. and Helen R. Waldren; married at St. Josephs R. C. Church, on De- cember 6th, 1892, to Margaret E., daughter of James and Ann Moran, of Newark.


Children : Helen R .; Mary G .; William J .; Edward M .; Margaret A .; James R .; Austin A .; Robert E.


Besides being one of the largest building contractors in New Jersey, Edward M. Waldron has been a conspicuous figure in the political, civic and religious life of Newark.


Mr. Waldron's educational training was begun in a private school to which his parents sent him, and he afterwards attended the National Schools, in Ireland. When he was sixteen years of age, he crossed the seas to seek his fortune in this country and was ready to take up his life work when he came to Newark.


James Moran, into whose family he married, was a well-known builder. In 1888, at the age of twenty-four, Mr. Waldron organized the firm of E. M. Waldron & Co. and engaged with it extensively in the building and contract- ing business. He had continued at the head of the firm for just short of a quarter century when, in 1912, he retired from the position. Immediately afterwards, he organized the Edward M. Waldron, Incorporated. Many of his old employees followed him into his new venture. He rewarded them for their years of service to him by giving them an interest in the company and his connection with it became chiefly of an advisory character.


Mr. Waldron has been particularly interested in the political affairs of Newark and part of most of the citizens movements set on foot there from time to time. In 1895 he was elected to the Common Council of the city, and he was re-elected in 1897. In 1899 the members of the Council made him president of the Board; at the expiration of his term, he retired from the Chamber. In 1906, he was a candidate before the Democratic City Con- vention for the nomination for Mayor. In 1912, the Democratic State Con- vention at Trenton nominated him for Presidential Elector ; and he was one of those to cast the vote of the state for Gov. Wilson, for President of the United States. Mayor Gillen appointed Mr. Waldron a member of the Board of Education of Newark, in Feb., 1918.


Mr. Waldron is quite as deeply interested in Church affairs as in public, is a member of St. Michael's Church on Belleville Avenue, Newark, and connected with many religious organizations. He is President of the Waldron Bros. Realty Co., a member of the Newark Board of Trade, a Director and President of the Eagle Fire Insurance Co., and of the Washington Trust Co., Trustee of the New World Life Insurance Company


475


Warren


of Spokane, Washington, Vice President of the Board of Education, of Newark, and is connected with many fraternal and political organizations.


EDWIN ROBERT WALKER-Trenton, (107 West State St.) -Chancellor. (Photograph published in Vol. 1, 1917). Born at Rochester, N. Y., September 13, 1862; son of Walter and Mary Paxson Walker ; married at Trenton, on June 30, 1891, to a daugh- ter of Jacob Conrad Fritz and Sarah Carlin.


Children : two (deceased.)


Edwin Robert Walker's father was a physician who practised medi- cine and surgery in Rochester, N. Y., but upon his death, the son came to the home of his maternal ancestors in Trenton when he was seven years of age. Two of his mother's fore-bears were officers in the Revolutionary Army, and another, Stacy A. Paxon, was State Treasurer of New Jersey from 1845 to 1847.


After a training in the Model School, Edwin Robert Walker accepted a clerkship in the office of the late Henry S. Little, who from 1871 to 1881 was Clerk of the New Jersey Court of Chancery. While busy there he entered himself as a law student in the office of the late Col. S. Meridith Dickinson and subsequently with the late Judge Garret D. W. Vroom, both of Trenton. Admitted to the Bar at the June term of the Supreme Court in 1886, he began the practice of his profession in Trenton. In 1891 he was made Counsel for the Mercer County Board of Chosen Freeholders and a year later became Corporation Counsel of Trenton.


While he was engaged at his duties before the higher courts, Chan- cellor Magie was attracted by his efficiency; and when, in 1907, Vice Chancellor Bergen resigned to accept a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court, Chancellor Magie appointed Mr. Walker in his place. In March, 1912, Chancellor Mahlon Pitney resigned to became an Associate Justice on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States tendered to him by President Taft ; and Gov. Wilson nominated Vice Chancellor Walker to the Senate for the Chancellorship. He was promptly confirmed and is still holding the position.


Chancellor Walker is a democrat in politics, and has been also identi- fied with the state militia. He was Judge-Advocate of the Second Regi- ment. N. G. N. J. with the rank of Captain in 1906, and in 1907 was ad- vanced to the rank of Major as Judge Advocate of the Second Brigade.


Chancellor Walker is a member of the Revolutionary Memorial Socie- ty, the Sons of the Revolution, the Society of Colonial Wars, the New Jersey Historical Society, the United States and New Jersey and Mercer County Bar Associations, the Netherlands Society of Philadelphia and of the Trenton and Trenton Country Clubs.


HOWARD CROSBY WARREN-Princeton .- Psychologist. Born at Montclair, on June 12, 1867 ; son of Dorman Theodore and Har-


476


Watkins


riet (Crosby) Warren ; married on April 5th, 1905, to Catherine Campbell, of Attica, Ind.


Howard C. Warren has been since 1904 the head of the Psychological Laboratory, and since 1914 Stuart Professor of Psychology, in Princeton University. He is also President of the "Psychological Review Company," and Senior Editor of its publications.


Professor Warren was graduated from Princeton in 1889 with the de- gree of A. B., receiving the degree of A. M., in 1891, and later the degree of Ph. D. from John Hopkins. He was a student at the Universities of Leipzig, Berlin and Munich from 1891 to '93. Meanwhile in 1890 he was made instructor of Logic in Princeton College. Upon his return from the German universities he became demonstrator of Psychology 'at the College and in 1896 was made Assistant Professor and in 1902 Professor of Experimental Psychology. His advancement to the position of chief of the University's Psychological Laboratory and to the Stuart chair of Phy- chology followed.


Professor Warren was a compiler of the "Phychological Index" from 1894 to 1907 and 1910. He was Associate Editor of the "American Natural- ist" in 1869 and 1897. From 1900 he was Associate Editor, and since 1904 has been co-editor of the "Psychological Review." He has contributed to "Johnson's Cyclopedia" and Bladwin's "Dictionary of Philosophy and Psychology" and is the translator of Tarde's "Social Laws," He is a Fel- low of the A. A. A. S., of the Anthropological Association, of the Amer- ican Psychological Association and was President of the Association Council in 1913. He is a member of the University Club of New York.


WALTER SCOTT WASHINGTON-Newark, (520 Parker St.)- Physician. Born in Bornmanville, Ontario, Canada, on February 12th, 1850; son of John and Janet (Scott) Washington ; married at Newark, September 3, 1879;, to Katherine, daughter of Richard and Louise Concklin, of Newark.


Children : Louise Janet, born April 12th, 1885.


Walter S. Washington was Physician of Rosecommon County in Mich- igan for seven years before he came to Newark thirty years ago, and for eight years after his removal to this State, was County Physician of Essex County. His descent is from the Washington family of Westmorland, England. He was educated at the Bornmanville grammer school and Trin- ity College, Toronto, Canada.


Dr. Washington is a member of the State Medical Society, member and ex-President of the County Medical Society of Essex County, member and ex-President of the Practitioners Club of Newark, a member of the Acad- emy of Medicine of Northern New Jersey and is Consulting Physician of St. James Hospital in Newark. He is also connected with the Forest Hills Golf Club.


DAVID OGDEN WATKINS-Woodbury .- Lawyer. Born at Woodbury, on June 8, 1862; son of William and Honor Watkins;


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477


Webster


married at Woodburs, in 1900, to Lidie M., daughter of Thomas H. and Anna E. Andrews.


David O. Watkins acted as Governor of New Jersey at a critical par- liamentary period in New Jersey's history. John W. Griggs elected in 1896, first of a long line of republican Governors of New Jersey, had re- signed to accept President Mckinley's appointment as Attorney General of the United States. Under the constitution the duties of the Governorship for the balance of the term for which Mr. Griggs had been elected, devolved upon Foster M. Voorhees, who was then President of the State Senate. In 1898 Senator Voorhees desired to become a candidate for Governor for the full term beginning in January, 1899. The constitution forbids a Governor to succeed himself and, so that he might not be exercising the functions of a Governor when standing for election, Senator Voorhees, on the eve of the poll resigned his Senatorship. That left no one to do the Governor's part and, in pursuance of a law of the state, David O. Watkins, who was Speaker of the House of Assembly at the time, assumed the functions. Speaker Watkins took charge of the Governor's office in October, 1898, and held it till Senator Voorhees who had meanwhile been elected to the Governorship by the people was inaugurated in January, 1899.


Educated at the public schools in Woodbury, Mr. Watkins was ad- mitted to the Bar as an attorney in 1893 and as a counselor in 1897 and has since been engaged in the practice of his profession in his home town, serving for some time as Solicitor of the City and Counset for the Board of Freeholders.


Mr. Watkins was still a young man when he began to interest himself in politics and from 1886 to 1800 he was Mayor of Woodbury. Two years later he became a member of the City Council and serving for six years was its President from 1895 to 1897. In the fall of 1897 he was elected a mem- ber of the New Jersey House of Assembly and in his second and third years served as speaker. In 1900 President Mckinley sent Speaker Watkins name to the United States Senate for confirmation as United States District At- torney for New Jersey and he served until 1903, when Gov. Murphy ap- pointed him State Commissioner of Banking and Insurance. His service there continued until 1909.


Mr. Watkins is Vice President of the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank of Woodbury and Vice President and General Counsel of the Wood- bury Trust Company. His club memberships are with the Woodbury Country Club and the American Academy of Political and Social Sciences. He is also a member of Florence Lodge. F. & A. M., an Odd Fellow and a member of the Jr. O. U. A. M. and of the Red Men.


WARREN WEBSTER -- Camden, (626 Cooper Street. )-Manu- facturer. (Photograph published in Vol. 1, 1917). Born on June 25th, 1863 ; son of Jones and Sarah Holmes Webster ; married at Merchantville, to Fannie Siegrist.


Children : Marguerite ; Warren Webster, J. : and Pauline.


478


Wells


Warren Webster is President of the Warren Webster & Co. firm that manufacturers the Webster system of steam heating. He was educated in the Pierce School in Philadelphia, graduating from there in April of 1881. In that school he took a special course in business and immediately after leaving it secured a position with the N. & G. Taylor Company of Philadel- phia. He had copied letters there and done clerical work for about six months when he was promoted to the position of assistant clerk to the man- ager of the sheet iron department, and soon after rose to the full charge of the sheet iron, babbit iron and solder department.


Starting in business for himself three years later at 12 Potter Lane, with one man and a boy to assist him he moved from there a little later to 491 North Third Street, Philadelphia. He had acquired a close ac- quaintance with the science of steam heating; and his business prosperity began when in 1887-'SS he invented improvements in feed water heaters, took out patents and commenced the manufacture of the new appliances. The growth of the business after that was rapid; and in 1893 a large new factory was built at Point and Elm Streets, Camden, where the firm has been located ever since. It is doing business under the name of Warren Webster & Co. Mr. Webster is its President ; and its system of steam heat- ing, feed water heaters and oil and steam separators is known in many of the countries of the world.


Mr. Wester is President of the Beach Haven Realty Company and a Director of the Long Beach Board of Trade, a life member of the Manu- facturers Club, Philadelphia and connected with the Island Heights Yacht Club, Merchantville Lodge F. & A. M., Merchantville Country Club, Seaside Park Yacht Club, Ocean Gate Yacht Club and the Avalon Yacht and Motor Club.


EDWARD HUBBARD WELLS-Montclair .- Manufacturer. Born in Dorrville, R. I., on April 7, 1859; son of Solomon Perry and Elizabeth Sherman (Greene) Wells; married on August 30th, 1900, to Serra Christy Bennett, of New York City.


Mr. Wells equipped himself for business with a common school educa- tion. Connecting himself with the Babcock & Wilcox Company in 1892, he became President in 1898 and is still filling that position. He is a re- publican in politics and a member of the Engineers', the Recess, the Auto- mobile of America, the Essex County Country and the Montclair Golf Clubs.


HAROLD B. WELLS-Bordentown .- Senator. Born at Pem- berton, N. J., Feb., 23, 1876, son of Davis C. and Mary A. Wells ; married at Pemberton, N. J., on April 25, 1905 to Grace A. Heis- ler, daughter of William H. and Eliza J. Heisler.


Children : Harold B., Jr., born 1906; Elizabeth H. Wells, born 1908: Wm. H. Wells, born 1910.


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Wescott


Harold B. Wells is descended from an old New Jersey family. His father, David C. Wells, conducted a drug and hardware store at Pemberton for many years, being also proprietor of the Pemberton Shoe Company. His maternal grandfather was Dr. Aaron Ried, for many years a prac- tising physician of Pemberton and vicinity. His paternal ancestors were farmers of Southampton Township, and his paternal grandfather was for many years steward of the Almshouse of Burlington County and Penning- ton Seminary.


He was educated in the public school of Pemberton and later at- tended the Peddie Institute at Hightstown, from which he was graduated with honors in 1894. In 1898 he was graduated with honors from Prince- ton University, having taken first prize in a competitive examination on the Ethics of the New Testament.


For two years following he studied law in the law offices of McGee & Bedle at Jersey City, and one year with Eckard Budd at Mount Holly. In June, 1902, he was admitted to the bar ss an attorney and in 1906 as a counselor. Since then he has practiced his profession in Bordentown, and is Special Master of Chancery. After being defeated three successive years for the assembly, he ran for State Senator in 1915 against James Mercer Davis, and won by the largest majority ever given in the coun- ty. Last year he was re-elected. Ever since his entrance in the Legis- lature he has been a member of the appropriations committee and for the past two years chairman of it.


He is a director of the Bordentown Building and Loan Association, the Bordentown Banking Company, is City Solicitor for the city of Borden- town and solicitor for the First National Bank of Florence.


He was appointed by Governor Edge to the Judgeship of Burlington County for a term of five years, his term of office beginning on April 1st, 1919.


He is a member of the Masonic Order, Knights of Phythias, a trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Bordentown and Superintendent of the Sunday School.


His business address is Bordentown, N. J.


ETHAN PRIOR WESCOTT-Collingswood, (730 Park Ave.) -Lawyer. Born at Haddonfield, Camden County, N. J. Decem- ber 14th 18S1, son of John W. (q. v.) and Francis L. (Prior) Wescott. Married at Trenton, N. J., on April 26, 1916, to Edna M. Crossly, daughter of William J. and Sallie (Arndt) Crossley.


Children : Catherine, born November 20th, 191S.


Ethan Prior Wescott, is a maternal descendant of Roger Williams, who came from England in the seventeenth century, settling in Massachusetts, and who later was banished from the colony because of his disbelief in the religion as laid down by the colonial government, and founded the colony of Rhode Island. His paternal ancestry dates back to Lord Lyttle- ton, of England.


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480


Wescott


He was educated in the public schools of Haddonfield, New Jersey and in 1895 entered Williston Seminary, at Easthampton, Massachusetts, from which he graduated in 1899. He was president of the graduating class there, and took the Williston prize for the best written and delivered essay. In the fall of 1899 he entered Yale University, graduating in 1903 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. While at college he was a great sportsman, and played on the baseball and football teams. By playing against Harvard in the baseball games, he won the coveted Yale "Y".


In 1905 he began taking up the study of law in the office of his father in Camden and in 1909 was admitted to the New Jersey Bar. He was made a counsellor-at-law in 1913. Since then he has been engaged in active prac- tice of the law with his father and Francis D. Weaver, under the firm name of Wescott and Weaver.


During the war he was an active "Four Minute Man" and a member of the New Jersey Executive Committee of Four Minute Men.


He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Junior Order United American Mechanics, and the Masonic Fraternity. He is a member of the Episcopal Church.


His business address is Security Trust Building, Camden, N. J. .


JOHN WESLEY WESCOTT-Camden .-- Lawyer. (Photograph published in Vol. 1. 1917). Born at Waterford, February 20, 1849 : son of John and Catherine (Bozarth) Wescott; married at New Haven, Conn., January 1, 1875, to Frances L., daughter of Ethan and Marian F. (Brown) Prior.


Children : Henry D., born 1876; Ethan P., born 1SS1 ; Ralph W., born 1883.




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