USA > New Jersey > Atlantic County > Atlantic City > The Daily union history of Atlantic City and County, New Jersey : containing sketches of the past and present of Atlantic City and County > Part 29
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50. Deborah, b. September 6, 1814: d. April 24. 1888; m. Washington Somers.
51. Arabella, b. August 10, 1817; d. October 17, 1891; m. Judge John Doughty. of Ab- secon. (See Doughty family.)
52. Harriet, b. September 15. 1825: m., first, Edward Cordery, and her second husband was Simon Lake. Lives in Ocean City.
32. Jesse, b. October 4, 1763; d. January 29, 1858; m., first Deborah Ludham, b. April 4. 1775; d. September 18, 1835, and had eight children; m., second, Elizabeth Baker, d. September 16, 1848, age 45 years, 7months, 19 days:
53. Priscilla, m. Elton Braddock.
54. John, m. and had two children.
55. Renben, m. Mary Bank and had two children. Reuben, m. Roxanna Somers; Jesse, m. Deborah Bowen.
56. Hannah, m., first, James Scull; second, Humphrey Scull.
57. William.
58. Priscilla Ann.
59. Jesse, m. Mary Baker, b. 1817; d. 1876.
60. Richard L., b. December 17, 1809: d. April 6, 1871; m., first, Hannah Somers. b. January 9, 1807: d. December 16, 1835, m., second, Annie Braddock, of Medford. N. J .. b. May 1, 1813: d. May 27, 1897. By his first wife he had two children:
61. Deborah Jane, m. George Anderson.
62. Christopher, who was lost at sea, September 15. 1858. from the schooner "Spray," off Cape Cod, aged 23 years.
436
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
By his second wife he had seven children:
63. William B., b. January, 1839; d. August 24, 1839.
64. Dr. Job Braddock, b. June 17, 1840; d. April 8, 1895; m. Louisa Corson, b. 1837; d. 1888.
65. Richard B., m. Harriet Tilton, and has three children, Lena, Maggie and Abbie.
66. John W., died young.
67. Annie, b. March 16, 1846; d. November 15, 1874; m. Adolph Apella, of Philadel- phia, and had one child, A. Somers Kapella.
68. Braddock, d. young, September 13, 1858.
69. Hannah S., in. George Hayday, Jr., and had two children, Florence and Louisa.
59. Jesse, m. Mary Baker, and had ten children:
70. Daniel Baker, lost at sea.
71. Ann Eliza, m. Richard Adams, and had one child, Somers.
72. William H.
73. Priscilla Ann, m. Morgan Christopher, of Medford, N. J.
74. Mary B., m. William Braddock.
75. Cornelia, m. Somers Garwood.
76. Jesse, killed at Scranton, Pennsylvania.
77. Melvina, m. Joseph Scull.
78. Eldorada, m. Steelman Turner.
79. Theresa, m. Joseph L. Veal, of Mays Landing, N. J.
21. James Somers, the "miller," m., first, Sarah -, and had nine children; second wife, Mary Scull, nee Brennen.
80. Samuel, b. November 25, 1779: d. January 4, 1855: m. Roxanna Scull.
81. Nicholas, m. for his second wife, Ruth Corson, nee Willits, and had one child, Ruth Eliza; m., second, Phoebe Scull and had four children: John, Charles, Abigail and Rachel.
82. James, m. Susan Somers and had six children:
83. Joscplı.
84. David.
85. Jacob, m. Mary Clark.
86. Sarah, m. John R. Scull and had seven children.
87. Richard, m. Leah Holmes.
88. Francis, m. Margaretta Vansant, and had seven children: James, Job, Alfred, Elmer, Margaret and Amanda. Amanda m. Capt. Wesley Robinson and had two children: Laura, m. William Middleton and Lena, m. Clifton G. Shinn.
80. Samuel, b. November 25, 1779; d. January 4, 1855; m., December 13, 1801, Roxanna, daughter of John Scull, and had eight children:
89. Sarah, b. 1804: m. Andrew Frambes.
90. Constant, b. 1806; m. Sarah Edwards.
91. Washington, b. 1809; m. Deborah Somers.
92. Mary, b. 1812; d. young.
93. Eliza Ann, b. 1814: d. 1872; m. David B. Somers, b. June, 1807; d. April 12, 1874.
94. Mary, b. 1817: d. 1836; m. John Brock.
95. Caroline, b. 1820; m. John W. Tilton.
96. Phoebe, b. 1824; m. Josiah Dilks and had two children: Annie, m. Albert Fleming, of Philadelphia, and Priscilla, m. William Braddock, of Berlin.
91. Washington, b. 1809; d. 1871; m. Deborah Somers and had ten children:
97. Roxanna, m. Reuben Somers. 98. Henrietta. 99. John, lost at sea. 100. Mary, d. 1896. 101. Harriet, m. Wesley Ireland. 102. Annie, m. John Towle, of Absecon. 103. Leonard. 104. Arabella, m. Leonard Melton. 105. Martha, m. Geo W. Fox.
89. Sarah, b. 1804. m. Andrew Frambes, b. February 12, 1796, and had nine children: 106. Roxanna, m. Jonas Higbee and had four children: Henry, Andrew, Sarah C. and
437
SOMERS FAMILY.
Wilmer. 107. Nicholas, m. Amanda Ingersoll. 108. Caroline, m. Samuel Wayne, 109. Phoebe, m. David Preston. 110. Somers, m., first, Hester Blackman; second, Josephine Yates, nee Race. 111. Howell, m. Abbie Higbee. 112. Mary, m. Wesley Leeds. 113. Eliza Ann, m. John Henry Tilton. 114. Sarah, m. Daniel Leech.
95. Caroline, b. 1820; m. John W. Tilton and had five children:
115. Daniel E., m. Ella Duff.
116. Phoebe Alice, m. Clement J. Adams and had two children, Carleton and May.
117. Luther, m., first, Elnora Somers; second, Emily Duff. and had three children, Grace, Ralph and Arthur.
118. Irene, m. Lewis Imlay, and had three children, Caroline, Horace and John.
119. John Walker. m. Eva Webb, and has one child. Mervella.
64. Dr. Job Braddock Somers, b. June 17, 1840; d. April 8, 1895: m. Louisa Corson. of Cape May County. b. September 2, 1837: d. December 14. 1888, and had two children:
BIRTHPLACE OF HANNAH SOMERS DAVIS.
Florence, b. July 12, 1864: m. Martin V. B. Scull; and Lucien Bonaparte Corson, b. April 8, 1871; m. Elizabeth M. Stewart, of Philadelphia, and has one child, Richard.
Dr. Job Somers was a very successful physician and a deeply religions man and highly exemplary citizen. He was one of the founders of Trinity Masonic Lodge, and later of Keystone Lodge, at Linwood. He was greatly beloved and respected by all who knew him. He was the author of several historical pamphlets and found pleasure in serving his fellow men and in keeping all his obligations.
90. Constant, b. 1806; d. 1891; m., 1829, to Sarah, daughter of Daniel Edwards, and had ten children: 120. Samuel, died young.
121. Maryett. b. 1832; d. 1857; m. Samuel W. Tilton and had one son, Curtis.
122. Daniel E., b. 1834: m. Mary E. Price and had two children: Marietta, m. Frank Price: and Fred.
123. Samuel. b. 1836: m. Rachel Githens and had two children: Warren and Hubert. Warren, b. 1868; m. Isora Blackman, and have five children: ITelen. Samuel. Jr., Harold, b. 1895: d. 1899: Rachel, and Warren, Jr .: Hubert. b. 1872.
438
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
124. Lewis Henry, b. 1839; d. 1890; m. Lenora C. Adams and had two children, Mark- anna and Geneva.
125. Susan E., m. Harrison Dubois, of Woodbury.
126. Israel S., b. 1844: went to California in 1866; m. and has nine children:
127. Sarah, m. James Tilton and had six children: Mary, m. Frank Somers; John R., Sarah, Somers, Clarence and Ethel.
128. Annie J., b. 1849: d. 1881; m. Jesse Steelman and moved to Kansas, where both died young, about 1881 or 1882.
129. Aner B., m. James Farrish and had four children: Annie J., Jeanette, Curtis and John.
93. Eliza Ann, b. 1814: d. 1872; m. David B. Somers and had five children-(For David B., see Lay Judges.) :
130. Aner B., b. 1835; d. 1850.
131. Mary B., b. 1839: deceased: m. John Cordery, and had two children, Emma and Mae F.
132. Joseph Henry, b. 1847; d. September 8, 1892; m. Judith S. Somers and had seven children: Eliza A., Lillian, Herbert L., David B., Harry G., Joseph Howard and Mary C.
John Somers, a brother of James, settled about three miles from Somers Point. He died in 1823, aged 68 years. Four of his sons, Richard I., Edmund, Lewis and Henry, mar- ried and left numerous descendants that settled in this and Cape May County. Edmund, the last remaining son, died March, 1881, in his 68th year. Many by the name of Somers have gone down to the sea in ships, never to return. but are resting beneath the waves wait- ing the dawn of the resurrection morn.
STEELMAN FAMILY.
1. James Steelman, Ist, was a Swede, who, before 1690, had identified himself with the colony of Swedes, in New Castle, Delaware. He located land in this county in 1694 or 1695, and owned large tracts, also many head of cattle. He was a member of the Gloria Dei, Old Swedes Church, of Philadelphia, and his children, Andrew and Susannah, are also mentioned in the records of that church. He was married, previous to his coming to this section, to Susannah Toy, daughter of Christian Toy. The children of this union being: 2. Andrew, Ist, b. 1689-90; d. 1736; m. Judith -. 3. Susannah, b. 1691; m. John Kean, November, 1713. son of Mathias Kean and Henricka Classen. 4. Hance, Ist, will proved 1760. 5. John, Ist, b. January 7, 1692; will proved August 11, 1775; m. Sarah Adams. 6. James, 2d, m. Katherine Kean, daughter of Nicholas Kean and Elizabeth Lock. 7. Elias, Ist. 8. Mary, m. - Blackman. 9. Peter, Ist, d. 1762; m. Gertrude -, record in Old Swedes Church, Philadelphia, Vol. 2., p. 225.
James Ist afterward m. Katherine Ouster, June 3, 1730. He owned a considerable por- tion of the southwest end of Absequam beach, which he bought of Thomas Budd. James died in 1734.
2. Andrew Steelman, Ist, b. 1690; m. Judith -. Their children were: 10. Andrew. 2d, made deeds in 1746; no children. II. Peter, 2d, b. May 1, 1723; d. November 9, 1762; m. Hannah Leeds, daughter of Japhet Leeds, Ist, September, 1750. 12. James, 3d; deeds in 1743. 13. Frederick, Ist, m. Sarah -; will proved April 29, 1778. 14. Mary, d. May 21. 1797; m., first, Edmund Somers, January 2, 1734; second. Joseph Mapes, May 6, 1746. 15. Judith, m. - Collins. 16. Susannah.
4. Hance Steelman, Ist. Had: 17. James. 18. Hance, 2d. 19. Charles, will February, 1779; m. Mary and had Barbara, John, Mary, David, Margaret, Gortery and Phoebe. 20. John. 21. Daniel.
5. John Steelman, Ist, b. January 7, 1692; m. Sarah Adams. They had: 22. John, will
439
STEELMAN FAMILY.
1796: m. Abigail Somers, daughter of James Somers. 23. Jeremiah. 24. Zephaniah. d. 1790; m. Rebecca Ireland, daughter of Edmund Ireland. 25. Jemima. 26. Katherine. 27. Susannah; m. Daniel Leeds 3d, son of Japhet Ist. 28. Rebecca, m., first Daniel Leeds 3d, son of Japhet Ist; m., second, Robert Smith, son of Robert Smith and Eliz. Belange. 29. Rachel, m. - Higbee. 30. Esther, m. Richard Higbee.
13. Frederick Steelman, Ist, d. 1778; m. Sarah - They had: 31. James, 4th, m. Susannah, daughter of Noah Smith. 32. Frederick, 2d, d. 1782; m. Sophia Risley. 33. An- drew, 3d, was shot on Long Island by John Bacon, a Tory, in the war of the Revolution. 34. Sarah, m. Henry Smith. 35. Abigail, m. and had a son, Elias. 36. Judith, m. Jeremiah Leeds, December 8, 1776, son of John Leeds. 37. Mary, m. Daniel Leeds, January 3, 1775, son of John Leeds. 38. Hannah. 39. Rachel, m. Peter Steelman, son of Isaac Steelman and Mary Andrews.
Frederick Steelman, his father and several brothers served in New Jersey State Militia, war of Revolution.
II. Peter Steelman, 2d, b. May 1, 1723; d. November 19, 1762; m. Hannah Leeds, September, 1850. They had: 40. Japheth, b. Jannary 10. 1752. 41. Judith, b. September 20, 1754. 42. Isaac, b. Jannary 5, 1756; m. Mary Andrews. 43. Deborah, b. October 9, 1757; d. young. 44. Susannah, b. April 12, 1762; d. March 8, 1810; m. Christian Holdzkom.
42. Isaac Steelman, b. Jannary 5, 1756; m. Mary Andrews. They had: 45. Peter. b. December 28, 1779: m. Rachel Steelman. 46. Jesse, b. September 27, 1781; d. November 3. 1842; m. Rachel Leeds, daughter of Jeremiah Leeds. 47. Hannah, b. August 25, 1783; m. Esperus Tilton. 48. Judith, b. March 13. 1785; m. Enoch Conover. 49. Sarah, b. July 12. 1788; m., first, Wm. Adams: second, Geo. or Thos. Smith. 50. Isaac, b. 1790; m. Margaret Leeds, daughter of Richard and Sarah Leeds. 51. Millicent, b. August 30, 1792; d. 1873; m., first. Isaac Ingersoll; m., second, Jeremiah Leeds, son of John Leeds.
22. John Steelman, will 1796; m. Abigail Somers. They had: 52. John, Major in war of Revolution, State Troops; m. Margaret Leeds, daughter of Nehemiah Leeds. 53. Daniel, m. Katherine Reed. daughter of Obadiah Reed. 54. Jonathan, b. December 31, 1762; m. Sarah Cordery. They had Elizabeth, Isaac and Jonathan. 55. Absalom, m. Sarah Sprong, of Long Island. 56. Hannah. 57. Roxanna, m. Felix Smith, of Absecon. 58. Abigail. 59. Mary. m. Nicholas Sooy, of Leeds Point. 60. Jemima. 61. Zephaniah, m. Rebecca Ireland and had Esther, m. Nehemiah Clark, 1800; Rebecca, m. - Davis; Sarah, b. Feb- ruary 24, 1787; m. Paul Scull.
46. Jesse Steelman, b. September 27, 1781; m. Rachel Leeds. They had: 63. Mary, b. September 7, 1807: m. Mark Reed, November 6, 1831. 62. Parmelia, b. April 13, 1802; m. Nathan Ramson, of Long Island.
52. Major John Steelman m. Margaret Leeds. They had: 64. Nehemiah, September 3. 1780. 65. Zephaniah, September 30, 1785. 66. Julia Ann, September 9, 1788; m., first, Ab- salom Higbee; second, - Carter. 67. Abigail, April 1, 1791; m., first, - Highbee. 68. Jonas. September 1, 1793; m. Ann Mccullough. 69. Leeds. August 21, 1796; m., first, Abigail Risley; second, Ann Steelman, widow of Reed Steelman. 70. Phannel, b. Sep- tember 25. 1799: m. Elizabeth Myers.
55. Absalom Steelman m Sarah Sprong. They had: 71. John, m. Susannah Scull. daughter of James and Susannah Scull. 72. Absalom, m. Deborah Corvode. November 27, 1820. 73. Elizabeth. m. Arthur Westcoat, son of Thomas and Chloe Westcoat. 74 Charlotte. m. John Westcoat, brother of Arthur.
Absalom Steelman and Deborah Corvode had Elizabeth, John. Charlotte. Sarah, Isaac. Caroline, Absalom and Katherine.
65. Zephaniah Steelman. b. September 30, 1785. Had: 75. John. b. September 8, 1825; m. Ruth Wilson, April 4, 1846. daughter of John Wilson and Elizabeth Leeds. 76. Reuben, mı. Lavinia Houston. 77. Ann, m. - Hardesty. 78. Margaret, m. Daniel Brown.
68. Jonas Steelman. b. September 1, 1793; m. Ann Mccullough. They had: 79. Mary.
4 Ira Sonar Shulman M' a posype stuten con ana Bet Johann 2 gopp. Sabem Co A. 262 Sarah Sukk. 9.19. 1810 Johan
440
DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
m. Henry Disston. 80. Julia Ann, m. Thomas Morse, son of Joab Morse and Mary Ann Lathan. 81. Beulah, m. -- Small. 82. Margaret.
50. Isaac Steelman, b. 1790; m. Margaret Leeds, daughter of Richard and Sarah Leeds. They had: 83. Richard L., b. 1816; m. Hannah Robinson. 84. David L., b. 1820; m. Rosetta English. 85. Jesse, d. 86. Mary, b. 1823; m. Andrew Robinson. They had three children, Judith, Abel and Margaret. 87. Sarah, b. 1826.
83. Richard L. Steelman, b. 1816, m. Hannah Robinson. They had: 88. Margaret, b. 1843; m. Abner Price, 1864. They had three children, Webster, Richard S. and Alice. 89. Sarah Etta, b. 1846; m. George S. Winner. 90. Isaac, b. 1852; m. Alice M., daughter of Constant Smith
84. David L. Steclman, b. 1820; m. Rosetta English. They had: 91. Dr. Jesse A. Steelman, deceased. 92. Mary E., deceased. 93. Anna L., deceased. 94. Ida, deceased. 95. Ella, m. H. S. Collins. 96. Rosalind. 97. James E., deceased. 98. James E., m. Hattie Frambes. 99. Mary Ida. 100. Dr. Philip, m. Abbie Scull. 101. Sarah, m. Thomas Smith.
co. Isaac Steelman, b. 1852; m. Alice M. Smith in 1877. They had seven children: 102. Ella, b. 1879. 103. Cora, b. 1882. 104. Constant, b. 1887. 105. Wilbur, b. 1888. 106. Fred- erick, b. 1893. 107. Hannah, b. 1895. 108. Clarence, b. 1899.
TOWNSEND FAMILY.
Gen. Joseph Townsend, in his early life lived at Green Bank, in Monmouth County, and was in command of local militia in the war of 1812. He settled at Bridgeport, in Bur- lington County, soon after the war, and conducted a hotel there for many years. The build- ing is still standing. He raised a family of three sons: (2) Daniel: (3) Joseph, and (4) Paul, and four daughters: (5) Rebecca; (6) Maria; (7) Louisa, and (8) Elizabeth.
(2) Daniel, b. December 17, 1804: m. Jemima, daughter of Samuel Loveland and Jerusha Burnett, of Bridgeport, N. J., by whom there were thirteen children, eight sons and two daughters living till past middle age.
Daniel Townsend settled at Leeds Point, adjoining the well-known Japhet Leeds' farm, on the most sightly and beautiful point along the New Jersey coast. He prospered as a sea captain and owner of vessels, trading from New York along the coast. All his eight sons became captains of vessels.
There being scarcely any public schools in those days, Daniel Townsend, mostly at his own expense, built a private school house and employed teachers to educate his children and those of his neighbors. Many still living can remember and bless his generosity. He was the prime factor in building the Presbyterian Church at Leeds Point, close beside which is his grave. In his later years he founded and named the town of Wheatland, N. J., and established tile works there which promised to become immensely profitable owing to the very rich and extensive clay beds, but owing to financial difficulties the enterprise cost a fortune and never became profitable. Capt. Townsend was one of the promotors and builders of the New Jersey Southern Railroad, and but for opposition from his own friends and neighbors where he might least expect it this line, in all probability, would have passed through Port Republic and Mays Landing and vastly changed the subsequent history of Atlantic County.
In 1854 he represented this county in the Assembly, and was one of the most progres- sive and useful citizens of his day.
The children of Daniel and Jemima Townsend were: (9) Joseph Towers, b. February 14, 1826; d. September 16, 1887. (10) E. Norris, b. November 3, 1828; d. July 31, 1894. (II) Samuel, lives in Texas. (12) Daniel, lives at Leeds Point. (13) William H., died in Bos- ton, in 1890. (14) James D., b. August 8, 1839; d. October 14, 1870. (15) Van Doren, m. Patience Stafford, is a captain of a steamer running between Philadelphia and New York.
441
TOWNSEND FAMILY.
His home is at Ashland, N. J. (16) Jesse L., b. November 13, 1845; m. Malvinia Brugler. of Warren County, is a carpenter and builder in Atlantic City. (17) Joanna, a twin sister of Jesse, widow of the late James S. Robinson, lives in Atlantic City. (18) Adaline, widow of Thomas Scull and R. S. Barrows, is deceased.
(3) Joseph Towers, the oldest son, was the captain of a coasting vessel at the age of nineteen. He and his father and brother, next older, each had a vessel and had a large con- tract to bring fifty or more thousand cords of wood from southern points to New England ports for Boston and other railroads. This was before the general use of anthracite coal. Several other vessels were built at Poughkeepsie till their fleet numbered eight or nine and were very profitable. During the war three of the Townsend vessels were lost in the South. Two were burned and one captured and stripped. At the close of the war Capt. Townsend took a cargo of cotton to Russia. During his lifetime he made fourteen trips across the Atlantic.
On February 16, 1848, he married Eleanor, daughter of James Jones, of Forked River. Seven children were born to them: Eliza J., b. January 29, 1852: m. Capt. John Lewis, deceased. Mordacai T. R., b. October 9, 1854; m. Frances Johnson, and lives in Atlantic City. James Beach, b. June 30, 1857; m. Estella Boice. Luthera Eleanor, b. September 9. 1858; m. Arthur H. Butler, deceased. Joseph Towers, b. November 15, 1861; m. Eugenia Hammell. John E. Jones, b. September 18, 1865; m. May Madden; d. January 7, 1900. Georgie Emma, b. July 26, 1872; m. Byron S. Eastburn, and lives in Philadelphia.
During the last years of his life the health of Capt. Towers Townsend failed, and for some years he did not follow the sea. On his last voyage home he was stricken with fever and died soon after his arrival in Brooklyn, September 16, 1887, aged 61 years.
His mother, Jemima Townsend, was a woman of many sterling qualities, who had the full possession of all her faculties till her life went out, February 18, 1894, at the ripe age of ninety-one years.
All the descendants of Daniel Townsend number seventy-eight: Thirteen children; thirty-six grandchildren, and twenty-nine great-grandchildren.
ANIMO
FIDE
6
NORTH ARMS.
Biographical Introduction.
T N these hundred and more sketches of individuals and families will be found interesting and important facts for those who may care what the past has been, thereby the better to judge what the future may have in store for this city and county. The life work of sincere and generous souls of our earlier history are here referred to and a fair and concise presentation made of leading spirits of the present day, who have useful years and honorable careers before them for their fellow citizens.
BIOGRAPHIES.
HON. CHARLES T. ABBOTT.
Hon. Charles T. Abbott of Mays Landing, was born at Tuckahoe, December 27, 1819. He is a son of the late John C. Abbott and a younger brother of Joseph E. P. Abbott, the present Prosecutor of the Pleas.
He was educated in the public schools and studied law with his brother at Mays Landing, being admitted to practice June 6, 1879. His practice has been of the general nature in the county courts. He was search clerk under County Clerk Lorenzo A. Down for several years. For eleven years he was elected Assessor of Hamilton township and elected a member of the .county board of freeholders in March, 1899. In November of the same year he was elected to the Assembly, receiving 3,864 votes to 1,890 cast for C. Bodine Somers, Democrat, and 391 for Powell, the Prohibitionist. He married Miss Caroline A. Glover of Camden.
JOSEPH E. POTTS ABBOTT.
Joseph E. Potts Abbott, Esq .. Prosecutor of the Pleas of Atlantic City, is a descendant .of one of the old New Jersey families. His grandfather, James Abbott, was a resident of Salem County, where John C. Abbott, the father, was born in 1803. He moved to May's Landing about 1830, having first been employed for a time as clerk at Weymouth works, after which he became general manager for Dr. Schomburger, of Pittsburg, of his furnaces on the Allegheny Mountains near Hollidaysburg. He married Ann G. Treen, of May's Landing, and had eight children: Rev. William T. Abbott. of Ocean Grove; John G., who was killed at Fort Wagner in 1863; Joseph E. P., Clark W .. of May's Landing: Dr. Benjamin. T., of Ocean City; Rebecca A. (deceased), Charles T., and Margaret T. The father was a civil engineer and merchant. He served fifteen years as one of the lay judges of Atlantic County, was for several terms a member of the Board of Frecholders, and lived to the ripe age of eighty-nine years.
The subject of this sketch was born at May's Landing in August, 1840. He was educated in the pay schools of the county and taught school for three years before enter- ing the law office of Hon. George S. Woodhull, of Camden, one of the Justices of the Supreme Court in 1801. Ile was admitted to practice at the November term, 1865. and succeeded the late William Thompson in practice at May's Landing at his death, in December, 1865. He was admitted as a counsellor at the June term, 1870. and admitted to practice in the U. S. Courts in 1869. ITis law practice has covered a wide range in real estate and corporation cases. He was appointed Prosecutor of the Plcas for Atlantic County by Governor Griggs in 1898 as a testimonial to his ability and to his unswerving Republicanism. He occupies a beautiful home on the main street of the town where he
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HON. CHARLES T. ABBOTT.
445
BIOGRAPHY.
was born and is known among his professional brethren as the father of the Atlantic County Bar, being the oldest living practitioner.
He married in 1862 Miss Adeline H. Gibson, of Doylestown. Pa. They have had two children, both deceased. He has a great liking for numismatics and minerals, and has been over twenty years gathering a collection: having made a specialty of American silver coins, he has one of the finest to be found, and his mineral collection of over six hundred species had among it some of the rarest on exhibition at the great Centennial Fair of 1876.
ALFRED ADAMS, Sr.
Alfred Adams, Sr., of this city, was born at Martha Furnace, in Burlington County, in 1833. He was the son of Uriah and Rebecca Adams. His father was employed in the old Martha iron furnace, and the boy and his two brothers, Joseph and Jere, attended the little old school house in the woods till old enough to work in the paper mill at Harrisville, a few miles from Martha. A few years later the boy found work as a spinner in the old cotton factory at Pleasant Mills, where, by accident, he broke an arm. He learned the trade of a brick mason and plasterer, for there was prosperity in those days in that section when Charles K. Landis and Richard J. Byrnes were developing farms and getting New England people to settle in and about Hammonton.
In 1853-54, when the first railroad was building to the seashore, Mr. Adams lived at Elwood, and later for a time at Mays Landing, getting work where he could. He was em- ployed on the railroad and came to this city in 1857 to live permanently, working at his trade. In 1859 he married Clara Bryant, and has been one of our best known and most in- dustrious citizens ever since. Many a hotel and cottage is in part, at least, the product of his handicraft.
ALFRED ADAMS, Jr.
Alfred Adams, Jr., the well-known bathing master near the foot of Virginia avenue, was born and has always lived on this island. He is one of the several grandsons of John Bryant, who was identified with the early history of this beach as a salt manufacturer and wrecker. Mr. Adams was educated in the public schools of this city, and by the time he was of age had mastered the trade of a bricklayer and plasterer. He was enterprising and suc- cessful, and in summer assisted his father in the bathing business.
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