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 33
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THOMAS JEFFERSON DICKERSON.
Thomas Jefferson Dickerson, the well-known merchant, was born in Philadelphia, De- cember 6, 1849. After receiving a public school education he apprenticed himself to the trade of a hatter, serving four years. He was only twenty-two years of age when he en- gaged in business for himself as a manufacturer. Later he resumed work as a journeyman, and continued as such several years. In 1883 he came to Atlantic City, making this his residence. Four years later he leased of Mr. George Allen, the store at 1334 Atlantic avenue, then about one-third its present size, and stocked it with a high grade of gents' fur- nishing goods, hats, caps, etc., and catered to the best class of trade from residents and visitors. So great was his success that he leased two adjoining stores and expended several thousand dollars in up-to-date improvements and met the demand at all seasons for the most stylish and expensive line of goods.
In 1894 he decided to take into the firm as a partner, Mr. Leonard Algar, who had been with him as a faithful and trusted clerk since his store first opened in this city. The firm has since been known as Thomas J. Dickerson & Co.
Mr. Dickerson was one of the prime movers in the organization of the Union National Bank, and was one of its first Board of Directors, having been re-elected each year since.
He was also one of the Directors of the Real Estate and Investment Company. He is prominent socially and fraternally. He is a Past Master of Trinity Lodge, F. and A. M., and a member of other societies. His business methods are such as to attract patronage and retain it. His fellow citizens appreciate his public spirited enterprise and progressive ideas. On April 24, 18,2, he married Hannah E. Rodearmel, of Philadelphia, and has two children living, Mary Elizabeth and Emma Rowe. He has a fine home on Virginia avenue.
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BIOGRAPHY.
HAMILTON AND MARY DISSTON.
The name of Henry Disston, the well-known saw manufacturer of Philadelphia, will long be remembered in Atlantic City. He had achieved great success as an inventor and manufacturer before he became interested in this resort, in 1871, when with his usual energy and enterprise he established here the first lumber mill, built cottages and demonstrated his faith in the bright future of the place. Ilenry Disston was of English birth. Ile came to this country in 1833, at the age of fourteen years, and found employment at Second and Arch streets, making saws by crude, hand methods before steel was manufactured in the United States. The story of the fifty busy years of his life in developing a large and suc- cessful industry which for years has given employment to a whole town is the history of saw making in America.
In 1846 he moved from Second and Arch to a larger place, which was destroyed by fire in 1849. Larger and better shops were built to meet the demands for the best goods on the market. Again in 1864 the plant burned down, when a large tract of land was secured at Tacony, eight miles from the City Hall, on the banks of the Delaware, and a town laid out on an extensive scale and an industry established, which has since become an important section of Philadelphia, and a credit throughout the world to the United States. Many thoughtful provisions were made for the welfare and prosperity of the employees of the firm, peculiar to the generous spirit of the founder.
The annual sales of the output of the works at this time reached half a million dollars.
It was in 1871 that Mrs. Disston authorized a friend and relative, Miss S. E. Turner of this city, to buy a lot and build a nice cottage for her here, not letting Mr. Disston into the secret till the cottage was finished and furnished and ready to occupy.
Mrs. Disston came down on a morning train one Saturday so as to have dinner ready for Mr. Disston, who followed in the afternoon. There was a pleasant surprise party that evening in their new home at the seashore, which neither had seen till that day. This was early in 1872, and the cottage stood on Atlantic, just above Indiana avenue.
So delighted was Mr. Disston with Atlantic City that he bought other lands adjoining. and considerably more at Arctic and Illinois avenues, and at Pacific and Indiana avenues. He built the Keystone bakery for his old friend Conway, and started a coal and brick yard to accommodate the people. The following year he built the first steam lumber mill on the island, giving employment to quite a number of mechanics. The mill was burned down in 1875, and in its place the present brick structure of the Atlantic Lumber Company was erected, one of the first brick buildings in this city.
Mr. Disston died in March, 1878, but the interests of the estate were continued in this city for years by Mrs. Disston, who erected a handsome villa on Indiana avenue near the beach, and the sons till within a few years have owned interests in the lumber company.
Mrs. Disston was a native of Atlantic County. She was born at Port Republic. April 3. 1821. Her parents were Jonas and Ann Steelman. He was a wheelwright by trade. Her mother was a Mecully, whose grandfather performed the then remarkable feat of recasting the old Liberty Bell, when it "lost its voice" by having a crack in its side. Mrs. Disston's grandfather was Major John Steelman, in the Army of the Revolution.
There were five children in the Steelman family: Julia Ann, Benlah, John, Mary and Jacob. Mary became the second wife of Henry Disston in Philadelphia, November 9. 1843. and became the mother of nine children: Hamilton, Amanda, Albert. Frank, Mary, Horace, William, Jacob and a little girl who died in infancy.
Mrs. Disston was a devoted wife and mother, generous in aiding the needy and noted for her many charities. The site for every church in Tacony, Catholic, Presbyterian, Meth- odist and all, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Disston.
The Disston Memorial Presbyterian Church was built and furnished complete as a memorial to Miss Mary Disston, who died in the prime of young womanhood.
Disston Hall of Beacon Presbyterian Church, at Kensington, was built as a memorial to
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hier son Albert. The Mission Chapel at Eighth street and Montgomery avenue, a house for a hospital for the Northern Home for Friendless children; $5,000 for the hospital for incurables of the University of Pennsylvania; $5.000 for the Hygienic Fund; beds in various hospitals and homes outright to worthy and needy families were some of her gifts and benefactions.
Mrs. Disston died June 15, 1895, aged 74 years. Her memory will long be cherished by thousands who shared her bounty or appreciated her generous, useful life.
LORENZO A. DOWNS.
Lorenzo A. Downs was born at Downsville, Gloucester County, October 9, 1839, his father being Jesse Downs, who was a native of the same place. Like thousands of other good American boys, he attended the public schools and secured an education that equipped him to enter into the competition of life. At the age of twenty-five, he engaged in the lumber business in his native town, and for ten years attended strictly to his duties. While thus employed he was elected Clerk of Buena Vista township for two years, and at the ex- piration of that time he was elected as Collector of Taxes. In November, 1875, he was elected Clerk of Atlantic County by a majority of seven hundred and forty votes, and re- ceived all the votes in the township where he resided but three, for a term of five years. He was re-elected for the same period, being the first gentleman to be so honored at the hands of the voters in this county. Afterward he was made Deputy County Clerk by his successor. Lewis Evans, serving one year, and we next find him in the Second National Bank of Atlantic City, where he first acted in the capacity of bookkeeper. When the Atlantic City Safe Deposit and Trust Company organized he was at once chosen secretary and treasurer. May 1, 1890, he was appointed cashier of the banking institution with which he had become identified. He still holds these two positions, enjoying the confidence of his associates, as well as the public at large. During 1890 he was elected cashier, secre- tary and treasurer of the Electric Light Company, but later resigned owing to his increas- ing business cares. He belongs to the Masonic Fraternity, being a member of Vineland Lodge, No. 69. He is a Republican in politics, and a trustee of the Central M. E. Church.
ALLEN BROWN ENDICOTT.
Hon. Allen Brown Endicott, President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Atlantic County, was born at Mays Landing, March 7, 1857. He finished his academic education, graduating at Peddie Institute, Hightstown, N. J .. in June. 1876. He read law with Hon. Peter L. Voorhees, of Camden, and graduated in the law department of the University of Pennsylvania in 1879, with the degree of LL.B. He was admitted to the New Jersey bar in 1880, and as a counsellor in 1884. He served as Collector of Atlantic County for sixteen years, from May, 1883, till he was appointed Judge. As a public speaker and an advocate before the bar he has few equals. He was appointed by the court to defend Robert Elder, who was indicted for the shooting of his father, and as counsel for John Rech, who was convicted of strangling Bessie Weaver. In both cases he acquitted himself with distinction.
Judge Endicott for eleven years was City Solicitor for this city, succeeding the late Harry L. Slape, who died June 4, 1887. He carried through successfully the condemnation proceedings to purchase the two water plants, also the suit of the city to tax the trolley car plant which for years had been exempt from any but State tax. Eminent counsel were arrayed against him.
CHARLES GILL ENDICOTT.
Charles Gill Endicott was born in Mays Landing, New Jersey, October 12, 1838. His early education was obtained in the Parochial School at that place, under the care of the
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Presbyterian Church, and afterwards at the West Jersey Academy of Bridgeton Ile took every first prize that was offered at these institutions during his connection with them After his graduation from the West Jersey Academy, he taught school until 1857, when he became a tutor in the English branches at the Woodhull Academy, Freehold, New Jersey In 1859 he accepted the position of bookkeeper for John Wheaton, of New York, and in 1865 he became a partner with him in the wholesale grocery and butter business.
In 1871 he formed a partnership with Henry A. Crawford. at Jersey City, and engaged in the grocery and ship chandlery business. In 1874 he bought the interest of Mr. Crawford and continued that business in his individual capacity until five or six years ago, when he and his bookkeeper, George E. Hammond, formed a partnership, and thereafter the busi ness was conducted in the name of Endicott & Co. A few years ago they changed their place of business to the corner of West and Cedar streets, in New York City, where they have done a constantly increasing business.
Mr. Endicott was married to Mary MeIntyre, of New York City, on April 15, 1874 For several years past he has resided at Westfield. Union County, New Jersey.
Mr. Endicott has also been prominent in church work, having acted as Trustee and Elder of the First Reform Church of Jersey City, and also has held the same position in the First Presbyterian Church at Westfield.
During the six years he was a member of the Township Committee he secured for that town the best macadam roads that can be found in the State. He was instrumental in having sewerage introduced in the town of Westfield, as well as electric lights and tele- phone. He has been Vice-President and a Director of the First National Bank of West- field since its organization. He is also President of the Building and Loan Association, a member of the Board of Trade. Executor of many large estates, and owns and controls a larger number of vessels than any one man in the States of New York or New Jersey.
GEORGE WOODHULL ENDICOTT.
George Woodhull Endicott, M. D .. son of Capt. Thomas Doughty and Ann (Penning- ton) Endicott, was born at Mays Landing, Atlantic County, New Jersey. April 10, 1853. and is a direct descendant of Governor John Endicott, who came to this country from England in 1628, as the first Colonial Governor of the Massachusetts Colony.
On his mother's side he belongs to the famous Pennington family of New Jersey, two of their number having served as Governors of the State: William Pennington served as Governor from 1837 to 1843. and William S. Pennington from 1813 to 1815.
Dr. Endicott's early education was obtained in the Presbyterian School at Mays Land- ing. In 1871 he entered the Brainerd Institute at Cranbury, N. J., but only remained there six months, and then entered Peddie Institute at Hightstown. N. J .. where his opportunities to prepare himself for the study of medicine were much greater. He graduated from Peddie Institute in 1873. The following September he entered the Jefferson Medical College, and was the youngest member of his class that numbered one hundred and seventy-one. In 1875. upon his graduation, he was appointed House Physician to the St. Mary's Hospital. Philadelphia, where he enjoyed the rare privilege of assisting such surgeons as Gross, Pancoast and Keen. After serving his term in the hospital he entered the drug store of Dr. Jos. Hornblower. of Hudson City. N. J .. to acquire practical knowledge of drugs. While there he studied pharmacy, and in 1878 he passed the examination of the New Jersey State Board of Pharmacy. Dr. Endicott first began the practice of medicine in Dunellen, New Jersey. He moved to Plainfield in 1880. There his ability was promptly recognized and he soon established a lucrative practice and became the leading physician and surgeon of the city.
Dr. Endicott was appointed Surgeon to Muhlamberg Hospital at its opening. in 1880. and he has held that position ever since. He is Senior Surgeon, also Medical Director of
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DAILY UNION HISTORY OF ATLANTIC COUNTY.
the same institution. The Doctor has been especially successful in surgery, having per- formed all the so-called difficult operations with an extraordinary low death rate. He was the first surgeon to perform successfully ovariotomy in Plainfield, and he is acknowledged by his associates to be one of the ablest in the State.
Dr. Endicott was a member of the Plainfield Board of Health for ten successive years, and inaugurated many improvements in the sanitary condition of the city. It was during his time of service that water and sewerage were introduced, and largely through his efforts.
Dr. Endicott owns and resides in one of the many handsome honses in Plainfield. He is a member of the American Medical Association, the New Jersey State Medical Asso- ciation, the Union County Medical Association, and the Plainfield Medical Association.
The Doctor was married in 1879, and has one son, George Woodhull Endicott, Jr.
CHARLES EVANS.
No history of Atlantic City would be complete without a sketch of its best-known citizen, Mr. Charles Evans, proprietor of the well-known Sea Side House. For more than thirty years he has been welcoming strangers to this island, entertaining them hospitably and taking an active interest in promoting local institutions and the welfare of the whole town.
Mr. Evans was born in Delaware County, Pa., August 21, 1838. His father was a well-known farmer and member of the society of Friends. His early education was at the public schools and at the Westtown Friends Academy of Pennsylvania. He continued upon his father's farm until his twenty-seventh year. Evincing at an early age, much ability as a manager, and being naturally of an ambitious nature, the year of 1867 found him located at Atlantic City, the proprietor of a hotel kept for many years by a Quaker family named Scattergood, as a summer house. It was at this time that Mr. Evans demonstrated very clearly his business foresight and showed he had the courage and stamina to invest his money where many believed it would never bring any return. At this time Pennsylvania avenue, where his magnificent hostlery is now located, was considered too far up town. Mr. Evans believed that in the course of a very few years this would be the most desirable part of the city. In this belief he was entirely correct. Accordingly he moved his hotel eight hundred feet nearer the beach and proceeded to lay out in lots the ocean end of this avenue, which he sold at highly satisfactory prices, and with such restrictions that only the better style of dwellings could be erected. This has resulted in making Pennsylvania avenue the most select and desirable avenue in Atlantic City.
In 1875 Mr. Evans took charge of a hotel in Florida for four winters, which he aban- doned in 1880, and thereafter kept the Sea Side House open all winter, making it an all- the-year house.
Largely through Mr. Evans' efforts, in 1881, the Atlantic City National Bank was started and he was made its first President, and at each succeeding election has been re- elected to that position. That the selection of Mr. Evans by the directors was a wise one, is attested by the present prosperous condition of the bank. It now ranks first in New Jersey and twenty-fourth in the United States.
In politics he is a staunch Republican, and stands high in the councils of his party. Mr. Evans has an aversion to holding public office. Though the highest office in the gift of his party, in this locality, could have been secured by him, he has only consented to accept the office of Councilman for several years, believing he could serve the interests of the city of his adoption in that way.
Mr. Evans has contributed thousands of dollars in various ways to advance the city's interests, entertaining visiting delegations and aiding local institutions. He was one of the most liberal contributors to a city hospital fund and the most active member of the Board of Governors.
His home is in one of the most beautiful cottages in the city, on Pennsylvania avenue, adjoining his hotel.
BIOGRAPHY
LEWIS EVANS.
State Senator Lewis Evans was born at Estellville. in Weymouth townslog In 1842 His father, Samuel Evans, was a Quaker. and his mother, Emeline Estell, was am Gi a well-known family of that name. Both are now deceased. He left home at the age of fifteen years and soon found employment in Camden as a messenger boy, before the cable loud been laid across the Delaware. He learned telegraphy and became an operator for several seasons, which secured his appointment as station agent at Atco for the Camden & Atlantic Railway. Later he was given charge of a larger office at Hammonton, till in 1863. when he was placed in charge of the station in this city. He continued in that position twenty- two years, till 1885. when he was elected County Clerk, holding the latter office two terms, or ten years. He served four years as City Clerk, 1868. 1869. 1870 and 1873. and was for nine years a member of the Board of Education. He helped to organize the first building and loan association, and has since continued to serve as one of the directors. Ile is also a director of the Second National Bank.
Mr. Evans is one of the charter members of the Neptune Fire Company, and has been president of the company since its organization, fifteen years ago. Mr. Evans is a past master of Trinity Lodge, F. and A. M .. and was for many years its secretary. He is a past grand of American Star Lodge of Odd Fellows, and one of the governors of the City Hospital and treasurer of the Board. He is a Republican in politics, and was electe 1 State Senator in November. 1808, by 1,113 majority.
WILLIAM E. FARRELL.
William E. Farrell was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 9, 1838. He was the son of John W. and Mary McKenny Farrell. The father was engaged in the wholesale dry goods business at that time. The first employment of the boy was in a country store at Smyrna. Delaware. From there he went to New York City and worked at first in some humble capacity for the wholesale dry goods house of Joseph Fisher & Company. He had risen to be a salesman for this firm when he left them. in 1866. and went to Philadelphia, where he became interested in the manufacture of paper at Pleasant Mills, N. J .. then known from the name of the stream on which it was located as the Nescochague Paper Mills. This mill was first built in 1861. and operated successfully till it burned down. in 18;8.
The Pleasant Mills Paper Company was incorporated the following year, with Mr. Farrell as President, and Herman Hoopes as Secretary. The new and larger mill started in Feb- ruary, 1881, and has been in successful operation ever since. Mr. Hoopes, a little later, sold his interests to Mr. Farrell, who had at that time become a member of the firm of Bargh. Farrell & Warren, paper dealers in Philadelphia. This firm later became the Nescochague Manufacturing Co. In 1887 Mr. Farrell retired from this firm. becoming the sole owner of the Pleasant Mills, which he enlarged and made more remunerative. In 1892 he married a most estimable lady, Miss Cecilia G. Hislop. of Troy. N. Y.
The business owned and controlled by him up to the time of his death. March 9. 1803. passed by will to his wife, the present owner, Mrs. L. M. Cresse, of Ocean City, N. J.
The remains of Mr. Farrell lie in a beautiful grove near the famous old church, at Pleasant Mills, amid the scenes that he loved and where he passed the best years of his life. A handsome monument marks the spot and his memory will long be cherished by those who knew his worth. He was a man of extensive reading and independent thought. generous to a fault, careful and exact in business. The paper mills which he established is one of the few successful industries in Atlantic County at the present time
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REV. CALEB K. FLEMING.
Rev. Caleb K. Fleming, late of this city and county, father of Jolin R. Fleming, M. D., was born near Bridgeport, N. J., August 30, 1824. He was the son of Jolin and Abigail Fleming and of Quaker descent. He was a farmer's son, and his school days were limited, having only one winter at the Seminary. He was converted at a Methodist altar, baptized by Rev. J. K. Shaw and united with the church at Paulsboro, where his parents then lived, January 31, 1840. While a student at Pennington he was licensed as an exhorter by Rev. Joseph Atwood, and as a local preacher by the Swedesboro Circuit. He was received on trial in the New Jersey Conference at Salem, April 21, 1847, and was ordained by Bishop Janes in 1849. He married Emma H. Stanger, of Glassboro. April 30, of the same year. During the fifty years of his ministry he served the following charges: Glassboro; Kings- wood; Moorestown; Medford; Broadway, Camden; Pemberton, Burlington, Sharpstown; Broadway, Salem; Millville, Bordentown; Tabernacle, Camden; Bridgeton, New Bruns- wick; Port Republic; Ocean City; Mays Landing; St. Paul's, Atlantic City; and Pleasant- ville. He was a much loved and successful minister. Many souls were saved and churches built up by his efforts. He never spoke from notes, and his sermons were of the plain, sympathetic, Gospel order. He filled some of the best appointments in the State, and was a devoted husband, father and friend.
For his second wife he married Ann C. Collins, of Port Republic, April 28, 1892, and became a supernumerary in 1895. He died suddenly of heart failure while attending the Pitman Grove Camp Meeting, August 3. 1896.
Two children. Mrs. E. A. Smith, of Collingswood, N. J., and Dr. John R. Fleming of this city survive him.
JOHN R. FLEMING.
John R. Fleming, M. D., son of the late Rev. C. K. Fleming, well and favorably known in this county, was born in Camden, December 29, 1859. His early education came through the public schools. Later he attended South Jersey Institute, at Bridgeton, and at Pen- nington Seminary. He then studied medicine with Knox Stewart, M. D., of Philadelphia, graduating from Hahnemann Medical College in 1882. His first field of labor was on the main land at Absecon, where he introduced the practice of homoeopathy, having three well- known opponents, then in active practice. The doctor, after five years of general practice, left behind no mean following of homoeopaths for his successor. He then moved to Atlantic City and established himself in his present location. His close associations with Atlantic City made him no stranger. He is the only President that the Homoeopathic Club has had in its three years existence. He is a member of most homoeopathic societies and enjoys professional work. In 1899 he was elected a member of City Council.
JOSEPH FRALINGER.
Joseph Fralinger, the well-known manager and proprietor of the Academy of Music, was born at Batsto, N. J., October 22, 1848. His father was a glassblower, and the son knew no other kind of work till he was sixteen years of age. When he was eight years of age his father died and his care devolved upon an uncle. There would have been a hand- some fortune for the boy from the father's estate, but owing to the failure and death of Judge Joseph Porter, of Waterford, one of the promoters and builders of the C. & A. Ry., there was nothing left for Joseph Fralinger. He worked at his trade as a glassblower at Winslow, Waterford and Philadelphia for sixteen years, when he became disgusted and quit the business owing to continued disputes and strikes about wages. He next found employment as a huckster in Philadelphia. He became known as a baseball player in his younger days, and became manager of the Quaker City club. With such noted players as
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